LIBRARY Hill at the University of Glasgow has been renamed the Dima Al Haj Liberated Zone by activists calling for the institution to end ties with Israel and the arms industry.
The renaming honours Glasgow University alumna Dima Alhaj and her six-month-old baby, who were killed in November 2023, one month after October 7.
Around 20 students slept overnight in the zone, with one person on night watch. They collected donations of food, blankets and pillows from passers-by, students, and staff until 3am.
The latest protest tactics have been organised by the Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS), after students from the group occupied the Charles Wilson Building as part of their demands, prompting a response from the police.
There are now also five students, who are all to remain anonymous, on hunger strike as part of the group's efforts.
Outside the library, Simon* spoke to The National. His morale was high, although he was visibly weak.
"We've had people starting at different days, but I'm one of the longest. I'm on day seven at the minute," he said slowly, adding: "So kind of feeling it now."
Simon didn't join the group until January, when the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was signed.
"I think the defining moment for me was when the original ceasefire first got signed because during the unrelenting period of genocide, I felt so powerless.
"I wanted to join, but I didn't see the point in it really. Then when the ceasefire came, I thought 'OK, a big push now, we can maybe really make an impact'.
Simon and the other four on hunger strike are not sleeping in the zone, as they cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as usual. When he arrived back this morning, he said it was "heart-warming" to see the community's donations.
"It's really heart-warming to see the community response to things like this. They've really been a great help, and we've got about 10 blankets donated to us.
"It's been really lovely."
The activists are in contact with students across Scotland, sharing news, updates and any tactics that receive any response from their respective institutions.
Encampments were previously set up at Aberdeen and Edinburgh universities, with Glasgow the only active one currently.
The referendum is 'a farce'
The Student Representative Council (SRC), referred to as "court", will hold an indicative online referendum, opening on Wednesday, and ask all students whether they believe the university should stop investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their revenue from the arms industry.
Simon has little hope for the referendum, even if students vote to divest, and described it as "a farce".
"We had a vote last year which got 80%, so obviously go vote, blow it out of the water, but I think what's more important is getting involved," he stressed.
Chief operating officer David Duncan, who is liaising with students and the court over the matter, has said “the university court has been clear that it will continue to invest endowment funds in the defence sector,” despite the SRC referendum.
Duncan met with GUJPS to discuss their demands, and gave further insights to the activists.
Simon claimed that Duncan told the group the university will not be providing any paramedics to check on those on hunger strike.
He said: "The university will not be providing any paramedics to check on us.
"Basically he said the hunger strikers never do get anywhere with their protest and that we should just quit it. It is really disappointing to see.
"The university has a duty of care to its students and they're basically just throwing that in our faces and saying 'no we don't'."
A spokesperson for the university said: “The university has been in contact with the group organising the protest on numerous occasions - via email and in person - and has specifically offered assistance and support to those saying they are on hunger strike."
When specifically asked about paramedic assistance, the university failed to address the claim.
"It's not even for a lot of money," Simon said.
"The arms income is just 3% of their investment portfolio.
"It's shocking that we go to such extreme lengths and we get nothing for what is seemingly such a small portion of their revenue."
Simon and the rest of the group said they will not leave the encampment until their demands are met.
