‘You cannot be silent in a time like this’

“You cannot be silent in a time like this. You have to be loud, you have to be on the right side. You have to do something. What are you going to tell the people that ask you what you have done for Palestine?”

These were the words of Kareem Aburoza, a student at the University of Bristol, who joined his peers outside the university on Wednesday in solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

A number of Palestine solidarity rallies have taken place across the country since Israel launched a major siege of Gaza following an unprecedented assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on October 7.

Student, Aden Saeed (right) feels the university has been too silent around the Israel-Hamas conflict, and needs to do more to support Palestinian students

Israel has imposed a total blockade on the territory, denying it food, fuel and other essentials, and has targeted border exits after warning Palestinians to evacuate Gaza.

So far, at least 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and more than 3,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including at least 500 Palestinian civilians killed during a missile strike on a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday evening.

Dozens of students stood outside the University’s Senate House waving flags, holding banners, handing out leaflets and signing a petition calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the killing of thousands of people by Israeli missiles.

Kareem Aburoza, who has never been able to visit Palestine, despite being a Palestinian, addressed the small crowd on Wednesday: “I’m a Palestinian, and I’m privileged enough to be here today and be alive to tell my story and tell the story of my people and my brothers and my sisters over there.

“It’s a one way street. You are either on the right side of history or the wrong side. Be on the one that does not support genocide, the one that is against apartheid, against ethnic cleansing and settler colonisation of Palestine and its people.”

“I have heard people say that Gaza is an open air prison. It’s a concentration camp. To say it is a prison is to imply that they are criminals. There are women and children inside of there, innocent people. They seek refuge in places that end up getting bombed.”

A number of stents joined the rally, carrying placards with the words “Free Palestine”

Charlie Gadd, a member of the Socialist Workers Student Party and a fourth year engineering student who helped organise the protest, said leaders and institutions in the UK need to do more to support Palestinians and people living in Gaza.

“The US and the UK are complicit in supporting Israeli war crimes so it’s really important we are out on our campus opposing the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,” he told Bristol24/7.

“People are horrified by what’s going on. We see daily acts of violence in the news and sometimes it’s easy to feel you can’t do anything about it.

“Across our society, from our media to our heads of state, are standing in solidarity with the Israeli state.”

Charlie also criticised Bristol City Council’s decision to wave the Israel flag last week.

“The council building was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flags. Where’s the Palestinian flag when there are hundreds of Palestinians dead?”

Holly Rigby, a lecturer in London and a member of Bristol Stop the War, also spoke at the rally.

“There are students like you going to university in Gaza, going to university in the West Bank whose university is rubble,” she said.

The rally was organised by members of the Socialist Workers Student Party in Bristol

“Protest is the only thing that makes us feel like we have the power to change this situation.”

One student wrote a poem, directed at the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The rally took place in the midst of an ongoing employment tribunal following the sacking of professor David Miller by the University of Bristol over his anti-Zionism stance.

Professor David Miller is aiming to get his job back after being dismissed by the university in 2021.

A spokesperson from the university said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the horrific loss of life and suffering in Israel and Gaza.

“The impact of these distressing and terrifying events is being felt across the world, and by our own international community.

“We are united in our support for our community. We are in contact with staff and students who we understand may be directly impacted and we continue to encourage all staff and students to reach out for support if they are struggling or have been affected in any way.

“Our Multifaith Chaplaincy can be accessed by both staff and students for faith-based or spiritual support during this time – and there are locations for quiet prayer available across campus and the city.

“We are providing opportunities for mutual support. The Talk and Support During Troubled Times events in our Global Lounge provide a shared space for staff and students to come together at this time.

“Every member of our community should feel safe and included on our campuses and we ask everyone to respect and support each other at this time.

“There is no place for any form of racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, discrimination, incitement, bullying or harassment at the University of Bristol.

“There is more information on the website for students and staff to support members of our community should they need to report such behaviour. We support the recent statement from Universities UK.”

A protest is taking place in central London on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire to the war and to show solidarity with people living in Gaza.

All photos: Mia Vines Booth

Read next:

• Hundreds march through city in support of Palestine
• Vigil in solidarity with Israel met with disruption
• Controversial professor accused of antisemitism sacked by Bristol university

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