Oxford’s pro-Palestinian Encampments Dismantled, after threats of Legal Action by Oxford University

Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) has decided to dismantle its Gaza Solidarity Encampment, after Oxford University threatened to dismantle the camp occupied by pro-Palestinian students. 

The University issued an open letter to its students citing “significant damage” to its lawns and a “failure of protestors to consult with proctors”, threatening to pursue legal action if the camp was not shut down by Sunday 7th July. Last week, the University decided to dismantle the Palestinian memorial garden outside the Museum of Natural History. Per Capita contacted Oxford University about its decision, along with the issuing of the open letter threatening legal action, but received no comment.

The decision to close the Oxford encampment due to legal pressure comes as the majority of student encampments established have been closed, in part due to hostility from University administrators. 

In open letter to its student members in the encampment, and an associated notice, Senior Proctor Professor Thomas Adock suggested that the “camps [are] being used as a base for unlawful activity, such as the incursion into the Wellington Square offices and the occupation of the Examination Schools” and “interference with academic activity at the University, including blocking the entrances to the Sheldonian Theatre during a graduation ceremony and the cancellation of an exam”. 

Oxford University withdrew any “express or implicit” permission for students to occupy the camp. This followed its removal of Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P)’s encampment site at Pitt Rivers Museum. The University justified this “in the interests of public safety and to prevent damage to the infrastructure”, which included “the irrigation system and the protection for our collection”. 

Facing a pending legal order for removal, OA4P was forced to end the physical camp after 63 days of protest. In a statement, the group criticised Oxford University’s stance, which they described as “targeting those protesting genocide” rather than “addressing its complicity in Israel’s genocide”. OA4P, however, declared that their “Liberated Zones catalysed the largest movement for Palestine that Oxford has ever seen … forcing the University to engage with our demands, and prompting steps towards disclosure, divestment and the rebuilding of higher education in Gaza”. 

OA4P have described their intention to “redirect our momentum towards other forms of action”. “The University thought it could erase this power by targeting our encampments, but the power we have built through the student intifada extends far beyond a physical space”.

Oxford University was contacted for comment.