Police attended an incident at Byng Place last Thursday after reports that a lone pro-Israel counter-protester attacked the Palestinian encampment.
Rhi Skelhorn and Ekin Kesoglu
At least four police vehicles were spotted at Byng Place around 4pm on 24 October when officers spoke to the student protestors.
Separately, two officers were seen talking to a man in his thirties wearing a ‘Let Them Go’ t-shirt and a yellow ribbon, a symbol for the return of hostages held by Hamas.
Haya, a witness involved in the encampment, told us that the conflict began when the man demanded the removal of several placards that characterised the events in the Middle East as genocide.
When this was ignored, he reportedly continued to antagonise the protesters and called them ‘terrorists’.
The situation further escalated when Haya’s elderly mother was pushed while others were elbowed.
One girl’s arm was reportedly grabbed with such aggression it left red marks.
The attacker proceeded to film the assault and stole equipment from the encampment.
Haya and others told us that the man is known to the police for being involved in similar situations.
This is not the first time the SOAS encampment on Byng Place was targeted, protesters say.
They claim that they had been provoked by ‘Zionists’ back in July and faced police discrimination after an officer allegedly pushed Haya’s mother in another incident.
A number of protesters were charged with assault and assaulting a police officer in the aftermath. Whilst some have had their charges dropped, others are awaiting trial.
During our interview, Haya was keen to stress the importance of their work.
‘These encampments have been very symbolic and we have gotten so much student support’, they said.
Detailing their personal connection to the cause, they added, ‘We have friends and family who are in Gaza’.
‘It is unacceptable that we stay silent whilst there are institutions profiting off genocide.’
This article appeared in the Digestive 3
