Abbott voices support for student Gaza protestors

Diane Abbott MP has voiced her support for pro-Palestinian campaigners facing disciplinary action after a protest at the University of Oxford.

More than a dozen Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) protesters were arrested after the group occupied university offices on Wellington Square in May 2024.

The group, who were later released without charge, are currently the subject of university disciplinary procedures - with hearings expected to take place this month.

In a letter, former shadow Home Secretary Abbot said it was "neither fair nor reasonable" to treat such protests as misconduct. The university said it would not comment on an ongoing disciplinary process.

"Subjecting students to formal sanctions for their involvements risks undermining the core values of freedom of expression and academic freedom that universities ought to uphold," she wrote in the letter to the university that has been seen by the BBC.

The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said any potential disciplinary action against the students, including suspensions, could have "long-lasting consequences on a young person's future" and were "particularly disproportionate".

"It is neither fair nor reasonable for a university to treat principled protest on urgent moral and humanitarian issues as misconduct warranting punitive measures."

"To do so risks chilling the very civic engagement and moral leadership that we should be encouraging in the next generation," she added.

In a statement, the university said: "The student disciplinary process is confidential and the University will not comment on ongoing procedures or their outcome."

Following last year's protest, it said it was "not a 'peaceful sit-in', but a violent action designed to escalate tensions".

"It is clear that the actions of some of the protesters involved in the encampment have created a deeply intimidating environment for many members of our community, including our Jewish students and staff and members of the local Jewish community," it added.

Abbott has been vocal in her support of Gaza during the on-going conflict with Israel, that began more than a year and a half ago.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas' cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 54,470 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 4,201 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

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