THE University & College Union (UCU) has condemned the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s (USS) “shameful” refusal to review its investment links with Israel.

UCU wrote to USS chairwoman Dame Kate Barker asking for “an immediate review of all investments that may be linked directly or indirectly to the Israeli government given the gravity” of the International Court of Justice’s ruling over potential acts of genocide in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza.

USS responded. saying it shared the call for “a rapid end to the current violence in the Middle East” but that it would continue to consider the ruling’s implications.

Today UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “When Russia invaded Ukraine, USS rightly issued a statement seven days later confirming there was a clear financial and moral case for divestment from its Russian holdings.

“We struggle to see, in light of the over 30,000 deaths, around 17,000 of these being children, how the moral case for even considering divestment from Israeli holdings has not been met.”

USS was asked for comment.