Protesters have set up camp on the University of British Columbia campus to show their support for Gaza and the Palestinians.
In a news release, organizers said they are “calling on the University of British Columbia to divest from Israeli settler colonial occupation, ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians, and to participate in global academic boycotts of Israeli universities.
In a statement, UBC said it values freedom of expression and respects peaceful protest.
“We understand that some in our community want to protest the violence and war they see unfolding. These actions must always be done with respect for others and within the limits of university policy and the law.
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“Any action that creates a health and safety risk, prevents the university community (students, faculty and staff) from continuing learning, research, work and other activities on campus, or damages university property university, it will be taken very seriously and investigated.
University staff will monitor and assess the situation on the Vancouver campus and will communicate with the RCMP, the institution said.
Similar camps have been established at universities in North America and around the world.
In Montreal, McGill University is considering its next steps to address the encampment set up by pro-Palestinian activists on campus.
In a statement on its website, the university said the situation has “changed significantly” and that the number of people at the camp has “tripled” in the past two days.
University officials added: “Many, if not most, of them are not members of the McGill community.”
— with files from Kalina Laframboise
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