In a quiet study room on the second floor of a building at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels, a group of students can be found diligently working on their laptops, surrounded by a number of sleeping bags. It’s not the customary pre-examination all-nighter, but a part of a pro-Palestine activist operation to occupy the university premises.
From the day the protest started last Tuesday, the activists assembled everyday at midday to distribute various tasks ranging from cleaning, cooking, security, art or managing the press. The building’s entrance is now decked with “Free Palestine” posters and stickers seeking the university to sever ties with Israel. One can also note a detailed job rota in a lecture hall of the building and a considerable reserve of toilet and kitchen roll stashed inconspicuously under a table.
The upper-floor features an art room showcasing pro-Palestinian artwork and sketches. A smaller group spends its time creating protest banners and placards. The group also had organised a yoga session on Friday evening and previously held documentary screenings along with lectures by academics.
The precipitation for their demonstration was Israel’s assault on Rafah, Gaza’s southern city. Many of the students in the group sport keffiyehs – traditional Palestinian scarves – as well as sunglasses or face masks due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They fear the risks both from the institution and online bullying, particularly if their pictures emerge on the internet.
One such student, preferring anonymity for shared concerns, remarked on the ready acceptance and donations of food items the group has received. He also expressed appreciation for the community’s kind and motivational support. Acknowledging their limitations, he said, “We understand that we can’t change the world, but we are determined to make a difference on a smaller scale.”
“We aspire to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and warmth… There are certainly no incidents of violence. The aim is to solely propagate the message of peace,” was the statement. “Our rigorous stand against anti-Semitism is unwavering for it has absolutely no room in our association, particularly because we have numerous Jewish students among us,” was the sentiment expressed.
The university, while in talks with the movement’s representatives post the commencement of the occupation, revealed an earlier start to the “study of its relationships and deals connected to Israeli universities”.
At another location of the campus, just outside the president’s quarters, a considerable crowd gathered for a protest managed by the Union of Jewish Students in Belgium, this past Friday evening.
The co-president of the union, Gabrielle Piorka (23), reported an attack on a prominent union member and ULB student on campus in the recent past. “Life since October 7th has been significantly challenging for Jewish students. Anti-Semitic tags are evident as we roam the campus and we often encounter anti-Semitic phrases,” she expressed.
Ms Piorka, enrolled in a separate Brussels university for a masters programme, urged for the evacuation of the ULB’s pro-Palestinian occupation. The Jewish student association has been advocating with university heads for more attentiveness towards issues of anti-Semitism, she mentioned.
Disagreements were intensifying on campus, leading to a growing feeling of “unsafety” among Jewish student, feeling the gaze of others filled “with intense animosity,” she disclosed.