Students occupy LSE building over school’s Israeli ties

Students have occupied a building at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the United Kingdom to protest against what they say are the university’s ties with Israel. The pro-Palestinian activists are calling for the central London university to cut financial ties with the country over its conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, write Wendy Hurrell, James W Kelly and Adriana Elgueta for BBC News.

Protest encampments have sprung up at university campuses across the UK, United States and European countries, calling for an end to the war. A university spokesperson told BBC News its priority continued to be the “well-being of the LSE community”.

The activists began their occupation of the Marshall Building, which contains the departments of accounting, finance and management on its Holborn campus, shortly after holding a rally outside on Monday afternoon. Ethan Chua, LSE Students’ Union Palestine Society Member, said the students wanted to disrupt university operations until they met their demands which also include divestment from fossil fuel companies. He added that students at the university had earlier presented a report that they say details links between LSE and “egregious activities” in Israel.
Full report on the BBC News site