London: A group of 5 Students of University of Manchester, United Kingdom have gone on Hunger strike to support Palestine’s against the Israel.
Earlier the University has charged its two students for disciplinary action when they where found protesting for anti-Israel in March this year, as reported in Al-Jazeera.
The group of students have gone on hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
They said the hunger strike will continue for at least a week.
The protest is to support the Palestine against the recent horrendous activities by the Israel government killing thousands of innocent people of Palestine.
More than 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners, led by senior Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti, are refusing food to raise awareness of the alleged abuses by the Israeli authorities.
Mohammed Ezzeldin, one of the students on hunger strike along with other four students when asked about his reasons for participation said, “Political prisoners in Palestine are being held for up to six months without charge or fair trial”, whike talking ton AL Jazeera this Saturday.
Ezzeldin also said,”They are facing abhorrent conditions in jail, with no access to medical treatment or visitation rights.”
He added, “While we’ve gone on hunger strike purely in solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners, we hope it increases pressure on the university to comply with our demands.
“Those are to drop all charges from the disciplinary hearing of the two BDS [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions] campaign activists.”
The Two students are accused for trespassing and damaging the universities property after unfurling a banner expressing support for the BDS movement.
Palestinian activists accuse the university of censoring criticism of Israel and are demanding that it drop the case.
A university spokesperson when asked about the students demand said:
“We became aware of this situation through social media, but not any direct contact with this group in relation to this particular protest.
“We are aware of their [the activists’] demands, and will respond in line with our obligations.”
The allegations against the University came up when the university denied the speakers due to speak in the event organized by the BDS Activists , cancelling the event.
The university denied the allegations saying it had to cancel the event because they were informed on a very short notice.
The other demand by the activist’s is against the universities ties with the firm Caterpillar which builds bulldozers used by the Israel to destroy homes of the Palestinians.
The students have many supporters against the cause including the university students as well the President of a the local chapter of the University and College Union, Adel Nasser.
Adel Nasser, speaking to Al Jazeera, praised the actions of the students as “courageous” and criticised the university for using “intimidation” tactics against the students being disciplined for the March protest.
He said, “I think they (students) are doing it with the best intentions, but their success will depend on how much they can shame the university into dropping their stance”.