Pro-Palestinian activists protesting at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto since Thursday were ordered on Sunday to demobilize by 8pm this Monday, or “means will be activated” to remove them.
In a statement, the activists said that in view of the order to demobilize the leadership of the Faculty of Sciences, which they announced at a meeting with students, they have planned a demonstration in front of the Faculty this afternoon.
In the statement, activists claim that the institution’s management told them that they “will do” what the law allows them to do.
Students “meet and deliberate democratically in assembly” early in the morning to decide what their next steps will be.
The University of Porto and the leadership of the Faculty of Science “remain unapologetic in their position” regarding student demands, “thus ensuring that the relationship between UP and educational institutions in Israel is maintained,” they say.
Regardless of whether the occupation continues or not, students ensure that action in defense of the Palestinian people will continue.
“We have been fighting for this cause in many ways for months, and as long as there is genocide in Palestine and our demands are not met, there will be protests from our side,” assured Joana Bernardes, one of the students present.
The activist group states that “the academic community – not only students, but also teachers and non-teachers – has strongly demonstrated their support for the cause, as have members of civil society.”
A concentration in support of the student movement is scheduled for 5:00 pm at the Faculty of Computer Science at FKUP.
This protest began more than a week ago, when about fifty students complained to the rector of the University of Porto about the breakdown in relations between the academy and the state of Israel.
On Thursday, students continued their protest at the Faculty of Science, where they set up camp tents to shelter in place for the night, surrounded by Palestinian flags, candles and banners with phrases such as “Proletarian Solidarity for a Free Palestine,” “Israel.” this is not a democracy, Israel is a terrorist country” and “The revolution starts here.”
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip was sparked by an attack on Israeli soil by the Islamist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and captured two hundred hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has already killed more than 35,000 people, mostly civilians, according to local Hamas-controlled authorities, leaving the enclave in a severe humanitarian crisis.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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