Education

University of Manchester protests over Israel-linked partnerships disrupt exams and prompt costly security measures

Thursday, 1 May 2025 12:35AM UTC

Student-led occupations at the University of Manchester have sparked major campus disruptions and financial strain as protests against the institution’s ties with Israeli universities and defence firms continue into 2024, with the university suspending activists and preparing for exam contingencies.

In recent months, the University of Manchester has been the focal point of several student-led protests concerning its affiliations with Israeli institutions and defence companies. These demonstrations have led to significant disruptions on campus and have prompted responses from university officials.

In March 2024, a group of approximately 50 students occupied the Simon Building for four days. The protesters, organised by UoM Rent Strike, Youth Front for Palestine, and Manchester Leftist Action, demanded that the university sever its ties with BAE Systems, Tel Aviv University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. They also called for an end to what they termed "unethical research" and for no disciplinary action to be taken against student activists. During the occupation, banners reading "UoM blood on your hands" and "Freedom for Palestine" were displayed from the building's windows. (thetab.com)

In response to the occupation, the university suspended a student pending investigation for alleged participation in the protest. The student claimed to have been "personally targeted and harassed" by university staff for being outspoken and critical of the institution. A university spokesperson stated, "We do not comment on the detail of actions or investigations regarding individual students particularly while they are ongoing." (thetab.com)

The protests continued into April 2024, with students occupying the Roscoe Building. They reiterated their demands for the university to end its partnerships with BAE Systems and Israeli universities, ensure all research is ethical and not linked to the arms trade, and refrain from disciplining students involved in protests. A spokesperson for the occupiers stated, "We have full control of this building, which is due to hold hundreds of students for exams next week. We will not leave until the university commits to not disciplining any student protesters and enters negotiations on the other demands." (morningstaronline.co.uk)

The university's response included contacting Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue to assess the risks associated with the occupation, which officials noted were "well beyond those we have seen previously." The university also activated its exam contingency plans to accommodate the disruption caused by the protest. (news.sky.com)

Financially, the university allocated over £104,000 between October 2023 and June 2024 to address security concerns related to these protests. This figure includes £71,289.19 for security costs and £33,192.31 for overtime. The university's annual security budget for the 2024/25 academic year was £5.2 million. (thetab.com)

These events have highlighted ongoing tensions between student activists and university administration regarding institutional affiliations and ethical considerations. The university has maintained that it complies with all applicable national and international statutory and regulatory requirements and agreed frameworks for ethical standards in research conduct. (bbc.com)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/manchester-university-standoff-palestine-israel-b2552439.html - This article reports on a group of students occupying Whitworth Hall at the University of Manchester, demanding the university sever its ties with BAE Systems, Tel Aviv University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and end what they termed 'unethical research'.
https://www.taghribnews.com/en/report/652976/pro-palestine-students-occupy-university-of-manchester-campus-in-protest-against-ties-with-israel - This report details pro-Palestinian students occupying part of the University of Manchester campus to protest against the institution’s complicity with Israel, specifically targeting its partnerships with BAE Systems, Tel Aviv University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
https://www.thetab.com/2025/02/26/revealed-manchester-uni-spent-104k-on-pro-palestine-protest-security-within-nine-months - This article reveals that the University of Manchester spent over £104,000 on security measures related to pro-Palestinian protests between October 2023 and June 2024, including £71,289.19 for security costs and £33,192.31 for overtime.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/protest-camps-exam-contingency-plans-29251731 - This piece discusses the demands of protesters at the University of Manchester, including ending ties with Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and ceasing 'unethical research' associated with arms companies like BAE Systems.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/war-gaza-pro-palestine-students-occupy-university-campuses-uk - This article covers the occupation of university campuses in the UK, including the University of Manchester, by pro-Palestinian students protesting against the universities' ties with Israel and arms companies like BAE Systems.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqllypp4gw7o - This BBC article highlights the ongoing tensions between student activists and university administration regarding institutional affiliations and ethical considerations, noting that the University of Manchester maintains compliance with all applicable national and international statutory and regulatory requirements and agreed frameworks for ethical standards in research conduct.
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2025/4/30/pro-palestinian-students-confront-university-of-manchester-leadership?traffic_source=rss - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative discusses protests occurring from March to April 2024, but recent spending on security up to February 2025 indicates ongoing relevance. The primary events are from the past year, but the article is current in discussing financial allocations related to those events.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: There are quotes from spokespersons and protesters, but without specific original sources noted in the text, their earliest known references online could not be verified. Established news platforms like the ones cited typically have reliable sourcing.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from Al Jazeera and references reputable sources such as BBC and news.sky.com, which are generally reliable. However, some sources like thetab.com and morningstaronline.co.uk may have varying degrees of bias or less international recognition.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims are plausible given the context of current geopolitical tensions and student activism. Specific financial figures provided add credibility to the narrative's factual basis.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is generally reliable, given its source and the plausible nature of the events described, despite some unverifiable quotes. It discusses recent and ongoing issues with a mix of contemporary and historical references.

University of Manchester
student protests
Israel affiliations
BAE Systems
campus occupation
student activism