Gaza protesters at University of Victoria say encampment will stay until demands are met

A pro-Palestinian protest camp has formed at the University of Victoria in solidarity with the people of Gaza and with similar encampments that have sprung up on university and college campuses in opposition to the Israel-Hamas war.

A pro-Palestinian protest camp has formed at the University of Victoria in solidarity with the people of Gaza and with similar encampments that have sprung up on university and college campuses in opposition to the Israel-Hamas war.

A statement from the group says campers are calling on the school to cut academic ties with Israeli universities and divest from companies they say are complicit in the ongoing war.

Approximately three dozen protesters and two dozen tents were inside the university's central quad area Wednesday with campus security on hand but no sign of police intervention.

"We will continue to stand our ground and the encampment will remain indefinitely until the university agrees to our demands and divests from genocide," the statement from the group said.

The protesters are also asking UVic's board of directors to publicly condemn the killing of Palestinians and to create a plan to ensure the safety of Palestinian students and their supporters on campus.

The university did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the campus protest but issued a notice saying the school supports peaceful demonstrations and free expression.

"Out of an abundance of caution, campus security may be monitoring access to buildings near the demonstration and may ask people for information prior to entering these buildings," the school said, noting campus security is working with local police to ensure the protest remains safe.