Cambridge University attempted to ban pro-Palestinian protests at a graduation ceremony [Getty]
The University of Cambridge has failed to secure a five-year High Court injunction against Israel and Palestine-related protests on some of its sites.
This legal defeat marks a win for pro-Palestine student groups, who have been vocal in opposing the university’s alleged involvement in investments connected to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The university pursued a broad injunction to prevent protests or any other direct action linked to Israel’s war on Gaza at four of its key campus locations until 2030.
It argued that the measure was “urgently required” ahead of a graduation ceremony scheduled for the end of February 2025, fearing that pro-Palestine protests could disrupt the event.
But in a High Court hearing, a judge rejected the request for a sweeping five-year ban, and instead, Mr Justice Fordham granted a much narrower order, prohibiting direct action only at Senate House Yard, where the ceremony was scheduled to take place.
This injunction remains temporary and lasts only until 1 March.
The university’s application for the long-term injunction followed a series of protests organised by the group Cambridge for Palestine in 2024.
These included encampments at Senate House Yard in May and November, as well as a protest at the university’s Greenwich House site. However, the judge pointed out that the university’s application failed to provide a complete factual picture, claiming that ten graduation ceremonies had taken place without any interference from protests.
Only two ceremonies had been disrupted, and three more were planned in the coming months. Mr Justice also argued there had been insufficient time for interested parties to properly respond to the application, which he said was “a matter of significant concern”.
A ‘draconian’ legal case
The university application was widely opposed by groups including Cambridge 4 Palestine (C4P), European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Cambridge Student Union, Liberty, and University and College Union (UCU).
Criticising the ban, Cambridge’s student union warned that “even standing outside Senate House to hand in a petition or holding a sign on a nearby street could be deemed unlawful” under the proposed ban.
Legal experts from the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) hailed the court’s decision as a victory for freedom of expression and the right to protest.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) also slammed the “draconian” case and called the institution to cut its ties with companies “complicit in Israel’s human rights violations, describing this as the true goal of their activism”.
“This is an important victory for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, both of which should be cornerstones of university life,” PSC Director Ben Jamal said.
“The University of Cambridge tried to single out Palestinian staff and students and those speaking up for international law, and subject them to draconian restrictions not applied to protestors on any other issue. This decision should mark a watershed in defence of freedom of expression and the right to protest.”
Cambridge 4 Palestine also condemned the move, accusing the university of “racist targeting of Palestinian identity”.
The New Arab has contacted the University of Cambridge for comment but received no response at the time of publication.
