War in Gaza: students on hunger strike against their university in Montreal

In Montreal, Quebec, a group of students from the English-speaking McGill University began a hunger strike on February 19. After a series of demonstrations and occupations of premises, they chose this means to denounce the financial investments of this institution in defense sector companies linked to the fight that Israel is waging in Gaza.

The main campus of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1821 (archives). AFP - DANIEL SLIM

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With our correspondent in Quebec,

Pascale Guéricolas

Some students at McGill University in Montreal have not eaten any solid food for 34 days. Others observe a fast for three to five days under the supervision of nursing or medical students. This hunger strike has several goals.

On the one hand, the students refuse to allow their tuition fees to contribute to providing Israel with weapons and equipment to fight in the

Gaza Strip

. This university has in fact invested 13 million euros in companies like Lokheed Martin, which sells combat planes to the Israelis, or in the French defense company Safran. They are therefore calling for disinvestment in this sector.

Also read: Antonio Guterres in Rafah: “Silencing the guns” in the Gaza Strip

On the other hand, the hunger strikers denounce the links between McGill University and universities in Israel which carry out military research. For the moment, the institution refuses to meet the group of protesters. On Friday March 22, she still issued a press release saying she was concerned about the well-being of the students involved in this action.

McGill University student Rania spoke with @dimitrilascaris about their hunger strike (30 days +). She explains their demands for McGill to both boycott and divest from companies/academic institutions that fund the Palestinian genocide. Full interview https://t.co/L42EWAP7cm pic.twitter.com/RrNuok799E

— Hunger Strike for Gaza (Gaza Starving) (@GazaStarving) March 23, 2024

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