Over the course of several meetings, the group have come up with rotas so that their post is never left unattended. Flyers are continually being handed out at St Matts and Frenchay, and students are taking turns to rest at home, or attend important lectures.

The group involved consists of a coalition of various societies including, the Socialist Students, Socialist Workers Student Society, People & Planet, along with other students who feel affiliated with the people of Gaza.

In an official statement the group told Westerneye;

“We are demanding the following:

-The University breaks all links with companies which supply arms and other services to the Israeli state and Israeli Defence force (IDF)

-Provide 5 fully paid scholarships for Palestinians to study at UWE

-Provide 5 fully paid scholarships for Israelis who refuse to serve in the IDF to study at UWE

-The University should Issue a Statement condemning the Israeli bombing of Gaza educational establishments

-University to publicise DEC advert in any way possible

-Support a day of fundraising across campus with the proceeds going to the DEC Gaza appeal

-Immediate boycott and halt to buying any University supplies and equipment from Israeli companies

-To send a public message of solidarity to the Islamic University in Gaza, whose campus has been virtually destroyed, and publish it on the UWE website and distribute it to the University-wide email addresses

-Send surplus educational equipment eg textbooks computers, to schools in Palestine
-No victimisation for those taking part in the occupation and free movement in and out of the occupied space”

At 7.30am this morning a security guard came in to warn the group that if they were still in place by 9am then the police would be called. On hearing this news the few protestors that were a occupying at the time began calling others out flyering back to what has become their base to show solidarity and discuss this escalation of events. The group concluded to go to discuss the situation in the security office, during which students made it clear they will not be moving any time soon, and security agreed they could remain as long as they did not cause any health and safety problems, for example blocking fire exits.

These demands were sent to Steve West via email, but by 10 am this morning no decision had been reached. The protest has so far been peaceful and little conflict has arisen. It seems the occupation will continue in this manner for the indefinite future.