Graduation disrupted at Edinburgh University as students protest over Gaza links

Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted graduation ceremonies at the University of Edinburgh last week, with students holding banners and chanting slogans accusing the institution of complicity in the war in Gaza.

Footage posted on social media showed graduates at the School of Social and Political Science ceremony on Thursday 11 July holding signs reading “No universities in Gaza”, “Fund teaching not genocide”, and “Jews say divest” as they crossed the stage. One student could be heard shouting: “How dare you? The UN has explicitly named the University of Edinburgh one of the most significantly financially complicit universities in the Gaza genocide.”

A large group of students then stood up and began chanting before exiting the hall, according to a video shared by the anti-Israel account Eye on Palestine.

The protest appears to reference a report published in March by Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The report named the University of Edinburgh among “the most financially entangled institutions in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” due to both direct and indexed investments.

It also accused the university of partnering with “firms aiding Israeli military operations”, naming Leonardo S.p.A. and Ben-Gurion University, with which Edinburgh jointly operates an AI and Data Science lab. The report has not been endorsed by the UN as an organisation. It did, however, renew Albanese’s tenure as a special rapporteur earlier this year, despite having been made aware of her past statements, which include describing America and Europe as “one of them subjugated by the Jewish lobby, and the other by the sense of guilt about the Holocaust.”

Additional clips shared by the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society suggest that protests also took place at ceremonies for biomedical sciences, engineering, chemistry, physics, and English.

In a statement issued after the disruption, Professor Colm Harmon, the university’s vice-principal students, said: “We are disappointed that protestors chose to disrupt Thursday’s graduation ceremonies. We respect lawful and peaceful protest, but having the ceremony interrupted in this way created an intimidating and hostile environment that was deeply disrespectful to our graduates, guests and university staff.

“These events are hugely significant milestones for our graduates and we ask for everyone to be respectful of those who have come to celebrate their achievements with their family and supporters. We will continue to do everything we can to minimise disruption and are sorry for the impact this had on what is meant to be a truly celebratory moment.”

A spokesperson for the university added that a new Responsible Investment Advisory Group had been established “to inform the university’s approach to responsible investment, carefully considering the diverse perspectives and concerns of our community.

They said: “We unequivocally condemn the violence and suffering resulting from events in Israel and Gaza in recent years. While our commitment as a global institution to act in accordance with our values is unwavering, it is essential that any actions taken are measured, responsible and fully consultative.”

UJS president Louis Danker told Jewish News: “Graduation ceremonies should be a moment of celebration for students and their loved ones. This year, disruption at ceremonies across campuses has created an unacceptably intimidating environment for Jewish graduates.

“We call on universities to ensure graduation ceremonies are inclusive of all, and to consider how they want their institution to be showcased to the family and friends of their Jewish students.

“At UJS we will continue to hold universities accountable to their obligation to protect Jewish student life and have written to every vice chancellor this summer to scrutinise their plans for the year ahead.”

While UJS and Edinburgh JSoc have engaged robustly with the university in recent months, a spokesperson confirmed they are continuing to push for “greater tangible action” to ensure Jewish students feel safe and included at graduations across campus. UJS has worked closely with Edinburgh University since 7 October to improve the campus climate, and both organisations are expected to continue dialogue with the university leadership.

An anonymous Jewish student who attended a disrupted graduation ceremony at Edinburgh told Jewish News:

“The protests at my graduation were disappointing, and made the ceremony feel a bit hostile. However, my friends and I haven’t let them define our experience at graduation, just as we haven’t let antisemitism define our experience of campus life.

I loved my time at university, and JSoc created such a positive Jewish life that no performative protests could undermine.”