Leeds student walkout: voices amplified in solidarity with Palestine amidst growing humanitarian crisis

Ioana Gradinaru on 8 February 2024

Yesterday (Wednesday 7th February), the Leeds student walk out in solidarity with Palestine took place in front of the Parkinson building.

According to organisers, approximately 200 individuals attended the protest and march organised by the Leeds Socialist Worker Student Society in collaboration with other societies from University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University. The protest joined a national walkout calling on institutions to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They called on the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University to end their partnerships with Israeli universities and the British arms-maker BAE Systems. They also called for student unions in Leeds to stand with Palestine.

The protest started outside the University of Leeds Parkinson building, with pro-Palestinian chants like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Ceasefire now.” With placards, banners and flags, the protesters started their march down Woodhouse Lane, in front of the Old Broadcasting House where participants made several speeches.

Among the participating unions were the Leeds City branch of RMT, Leeds University Amnesty International, Leeds City College, Leeds Palestine Solidarity Group, Leeds Beckett Palestine Society and several other societies from the universities. The organisers claim that this has been the biggest turnout for a walkout since the start of the protests in October. The march was followed by a convoy of taxis, some of them with Palestinian flags, showing their support and solidarity.

Image: @swssleeds on Instagram

The speakers talked about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is worsening according to various news agencies. The UN estimates that since the start of the war, 100,000 people in Gaza have been killed, injured or are missing. Al Jazeera estimates the death toll to be over 27,000.

Recently, nearly a dozen Western countries announced they will stop providing aid to Gaza through donations to UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), which is one of the main ways Palestinians receive aid. The funding cuts come after Israeli officials accused several UNRWA employees of being involved in the October 7th attack. The UNRWA’s commissioner general said: “it would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region.”. He also announced: “I urge countries who have suspended their funding to re-consider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response. The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability”. 

Issy Beauvoisin, a member of the Socialist Worker Student Society,  called on students in Leeds to take part in weekly student walkouts. “Boycotting is really important and a really effective way to get to the crux of the issue and supporting things like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organise the Saturday demos.” The Leeds Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been organising protests every Saturday since the beginning of October in the Leeds City Centre. Beauvoisin said: “I’d love for our universities to become more involved, especially our student unions.We’re really trying to ask them to become a little more sympathetic to the issue of Palestine and support us more and allow us to do more activism on campus.”

The protesters also flew Yemen’s flag, in solidarity with the bombings taking place there right now. Since mid-November, Houthi rebels have been attacking ships and blocking the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestine. According to CNN, the Suez Canal has great importance in global trade, with 12% of global trade passing through it yearly. When a ship got stuck and blocked the canal for almost a week in 2021, it caused interruptions in trade worth “as much as $10 billion in cargo each day.” 

Since the October 7th attacks, many world leaders have been accused by the media of mishandling the situation. As protests continue around the world, it is up to these leaders to decide the next moves in this conflict.

In a previous statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict, a spokesperson for the University of Leeds said “we are writing to express our continued support for all in our community who are affected by the terrible conflict in Israel and Gaza and its devastating impact on civilians in the region.”. They also said they are committed to free speech and the right to demonstrate.

University distances itself from comments made by Jewish chaplain

Reiham Amin on 18 November 2023

A row has broken out after the University of Leeds Jewish Chaplain posted videos about the Israel and Palestine crisis on social media.

Zecharia Deutsch, an Israeli citizen, has taken leave from his role in Leeds to serve as a reservist in the Israeli Defence Force.

In the videos, which were sent to a chaplaincy WhatsApp group for Jewish students in Leeds, Deutsch says ‘If you know the real story of what has been going on here in Israel over the last thousands of years […] no one can deny that Israel is dealing with this war with the utmost morality and good ethics.”

He added “What Israel is trying to do is destroy the evil… whilst also trying to deal with the civilians of Gaza in the best way possible”.

Last month, Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 200 women, men and children being taken hostage.

In response to the violence, Israel has carried out an unparalleled air strikebombardment on Gaza and launched a ground offensive. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 11,000 people, many civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the crisis began.

The IDF has so far drafted 300,000 reservists to boost its standing force.

The University of Leeds’ Chaplaincy service is in place for all students and staff’s well-being, offering pastoral and spiritual support for those practising any faith.

The actions of Chaplain Zecharia, however, have left some students at the university feeling worried and concerned for their safety.

A University of Leeds spokesperson said: “Jewish Chaplains are employed and assigned by independent charity the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UIC) to provide services to students at universities across the UK, including the Yorkshire region.

“We understand that one of the chaplains, who is an Israeli citizen, has been called up as a reservist and has therefore taken a formal leave of absence from his role.

“Leeds University chaplaincy services will continue to provide support to students of all faiths and none, alongside our student support and welfare teams across the University and LUU.

“The University has been made aware of comments which we understand were made in a personal capacity and should not be interpreted as the position of the institution.”

In a statement released by the Palestine Solidarity Group, Leeds Islamic Society and Leeds Ahlulbayt Islamic Society, the student groups expressed concern and disappointment.

The statement went on to question the University by asking what they will do to ensure the protection of all students in a safe environment for everyone in the chaplaincy and have demanded his immediate removal and a commitment that “anyone actively associated with the IDF will not be allowed to teach and work on campus.”

Chaplain Zecharia Deutsch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.