STUDENTS at the University of Glasgow have launched a teach-in for Palestine, as they call on the institution to sever all ties with Israel and the arms trade.

This morning, students took over the Sir Charles Wilson Building on campus, immediately launching a full programme of classes and discussions on the Palestinian struggle.

One session included the showing of the BBC docuemtary Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, a graphic account of Palestinian suffering, later removed from iPlayer under pressure from pro-Israel groups.

The university is in receipt of grants worth more than £60 million, and holds investments worth £6.8m across 26 arms companies including RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.

Calling for divesment, student protester Ilyas Jarrar said: “I’m here today because Western institutions cannot keep profiting from the blood of my people in Palestine with immunity.

“As students of conscience, we’re here to hold this shamelessly complicit university accountable and provide an anti-colonial, liberated learning zone where students can broaden their knowledge.”

As the teach-in continued, a rally was held outside the university’s library, where speeches of solidarity were heard from the University and Collges Union, as well as from students at the neighbouring Glasgow Caledonian University.

Before leading the march back to the teach-in, student activist Coll McCail told the rally: “Keir Starmer recently announced increases in defence spending with no opposition from mainstream political parties.

“Every penny that goes towards companies like BAE Systems, who have just announced profits of £3 billion, could go to schools, hospitals or our lecturers, who are overworked and underpaid — this is the fight we are up against.

“They want to reorgnaise the economy around the arms industry, but we have to push back.

“That’s why today’s demonstration is so important, because the mirage of enlightened liberalism that this university sells to its students every day is just that: a mirage.”

A university spokesperson said: “The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students to engage in peaceful demonstrations. 

“However, we do not tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace.”