Dalhousie University issued a statement on July 19, indicating plans to reclaim Studley Quad, where the encampment has been established for the past two months.
These students have been calling on the university to disclose and divest from any partnerships and investments that support the state of Israel, as that country continues to oppress and kill Palestinian civillians.
“They want us out as soon as possible because campus is back to being active and soon to be filled with thousands of students. They don’t want us here on a busy campus for their reputation’s sake, and O week (orientation) by the time it begins,” said Handala.
“I think it makes them more susceptible to damaging their reputation if the encampment is still up for the duration of O week,” he added.
The statement, released by Dalhousie University President Kim Brooks and Vice-Provost of Student Affairs Rick Ezekiel indicated that the decision “align with the requests and demands” of the Dalhousie Student Union and the Students for the Liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk (SLPK).
Members of the SLPK responded to that statement during a press conference held inside the Henry Hicks building, one of the administrative buildings at Dalhousie.
“We could tell that the university admin we’re dealing with treat us quite emotionlessly, meaning they negotiate like robots. And you can tell they were watching their words in negotiation meetings,” said Handala.
In a statement released on July 19 via the SLPK Instagram, the group revealed that the Dalhousie administration had provided them with a “Summary of Engagements & Commitments” on July 15.
This summary was categorised into student supports, investment disclosures and divestments, academic partnerships, and statements and communications.
The group stated on Instagram that they responded to the administration on July 16, referencing a meeting with them on July 11, during which they had requested a contractually binding agreement similar to the one at UWindsor.
“We explicitly did not consent to their summary being sent out to the broader community on July 19. We explained that we will respond with our edits to the draft ‘Summary of Engagement & Commitments’ and outline the meaningful steps that must be taken to adopt our demands in a timely manner.” read the statement.
Shortly after the press release, the university called the police on students who were holding a peaceful demonstration, instructing them to vacate the building. The students were threatened with obstruction and mischief charges.
Dalhousie University released their statement on the same day the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, which stated “Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law.”
“I think it’s really embarrassing for the university to literally put in a statement one hour and a half after this happened at the ICJ that they are going to monitor the ICJ. This shows me that they are lying,” Handala said. “Because if they were monitoring the ICJ like the rest of us, they would have known that they now have to divest since they are the ones who say they want to follow international law.”
“Dalhousie recognizes and will continue to remain aware of UN bodies and international law organizations (International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court) who are monitoring this evolving crisis,” read the statement Dalhousie University released.
Lasting Impact: The Pro-Palestinian Encampment at Al-Zeitoun University
The encampment at Al-Zeitoun University, formerly Dalhousie, began 77 days ago at the Studley Quad by the Students for the liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk (SLPK), a coalition of autonomous students spanning Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, the University of King’s College, and the Nova Scotia College for Art and Design (NSCAD )University.
The name change of the university came when the students occupied the Studley quad as olives represent the rich history of Palestine and peace.
The encampment at Al-Zeitoun University is the second encampment remaining in Canada after several similar protests at the University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, McGill University and others, were forced to decamp.
Dalhousie’s investments in genocide
Dalhousie University invests $4,493,485 in Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy
(LVMH), $3,075,138 through Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank; $960,743 in Nippon Sanso Holding Corp., all of which invest in weapons manufacturers that provide weapons to Israel; and $5,430,615 in Nestlé S.A., another target of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement targeting the Israeli government. Additionally, they invest $2,594,915 in Intercontinental Hotels, which operates illegal settlements in occupied Palestine.
Dalhousie University also invests $706,079 in Israel Chemical Limited, a company that manufactures white phosphorus for the Israeli Occupation Forced (IOF).
White phosphorus is a chemical weapon that has been used illegally under international law against Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. When it comes into contact with skin, white phosphorus causes deep, excruciating burns. These burns can be so severe that they may reach down to the bone.
Israel has deployed white phosphorus in multiple instances against civilians, notably in Lebanon in 1982 and 2006, as well as in Gaza in 2008, 2009, and 2023.
Dalhousie University declined an interview at this time.
Since October 7, 39,175 Palestinian civilians have been reported killed by the Palestinian health authorities and 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the reported numbers may not include all victims, as many individuals are still unaccounted for under the rubble. In May, the ministry suggested that around 10,000 bodies remain unaccounted for.
Additionally, The Lancet medical journal released a letter on July 5 from three academics, suggesting that indirect deaths attributed to factors such as disease and starvation could indicate that the actual death toll is significantly higher than official figures, potentially surpassing 186,000.
“These children have become the faces of the ongoing war. From devastating injuries sustained in airstrikes, to the trauma of being caught in violent clashes, their stories paint a harrowing picture of the human consequences of conflict.
“Imagine being strip-searched, left naked and questioned for hours. Told that you are safe and you can leave, you quickly walk away down the street, praying. But then, you are shot at. Your father is killed and a bullet penetrates your naked pelvis causing serious internal and external injuries that will require reconstructive surgery,” said UNICEF Communications Specialist Tess Ingram during a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
According to the health ministry, at-least 589 Palestinians were killed by the IOF in the West Bank, at least 142 of them were children.
The Students for the liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk concluded the press release by calling for an emergency board of governors meeting where a vote for divestment can take place.
“Our end goal is divestment from the state of Israel, as well as the meeting of other demands that we made clear from the beginning, such as the introduction of a middle eastern studies department here at Dalhousie and the introduction of a Nakba course,” said Handala.
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