Students at UAB Demand University Cuts Ties with Israel

Thursday 22 May 2025 - 11:34

By: Zahouani Ilham

Students at UAB Demand University Cuts Ties with Israel

Students from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have once again set up camp on campus grounds, urging the university to fulfill its previous commitment to sever all ties with Israel. The student group Acampada per Palestina UAB insists that an immediate academic boycott is necessary.

In May 2024, a similar protest led to the university agreeing to completely cut relations with Israel. However, students now argue that nearly a year later, UAB’s administration has taken little concrete action. "It seems the university leadership believes the issue of Gaza and Palestine can be postponed—but postponed until when?" they ask, stressing that the humanitarian crisis is worsening.

The renewed protest began with students spending the night outside the university’s Claustro. Early in the morning, they lay down in front of the main entrance—not to block access, but to draw attention to their cause.

According to statements provided to the Catalan News Agency (ACN), university officials claim they have been working throughout the year to implement the agreement, though they have not publicized their progress. They confirm that one student exchange program and certain research agreements with Israeli institutions have been suspended. However, the initiative to host Palestinian students has failed due to logistical barriers: many remain trapped in Gaza or are stuck in Egypt without access to visas.