Pro-Palestine rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow on October 7 attacks anniversary

Pro-Palestine demonstrations took place at universities in Edinburgh and Glasgow on the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside George Square in Edinburgh, outside the university’s Main Library, and marched to the Bayes Centre before ending in the Old College quadrangle.

Similar protests occurred on Library Hill in Glasgow, outside the university library. Both demonstrations featured Palestinian flags, banners with slogans condemning the Israeli occupation, and chants such as "Free, free Palestine" and "Israel is a terror state." A banner unfurled in Edinburgh featured a list of the names and ages of thousands of Palestinians killed during the first three weeks of the conflict.

Organizers emphasized the need to combat the "genocide in Gaza" and called for the university to divest from Israeli-linked companies. Lecturers argued that the university's investments in Israel amounted to complicity in the ongoing genocide and that the university had not taken meaningful action to divest, despite demands from the student body.

The University of Edinburgh acknowledged the protest's timing and the concerns it raised, stating that lawful protest does not justify harassment or intimidation. However, they maintained that their investment practices adhered to the university's commitment to human rights, citing a sector-leading approach to responsible investment.