Pro-Palestinian students staged a counterprotest at the ‘silent vigil for peace’ last night, calling on the University to cut ties with arms companies.

Activists from Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) displayed banners accusing the University of “hypocrisy” over their investments in arms, and called on them to “cut ties with BAE Systems,” the largest defence contractor in Europe.

The group also displayed QR codes that linked to a site displaying their demands on the University to divest from companies associated with Israel.

The vigil, which was described as a place for “a moment of reflection and prayer among others,” was attended by the University’s pro-vice chancellor for education Professor Bhaskar Vira.

The protesters remained silent throughout the vigil, and did not attempt to disrupt the event while it was ongoing.

During the event, one onlooker, who was not associated with the counterprotest, played loud music to disrupt the vigil. They were repeatedly asked to turn it off, but refused, stating that: “I don’t like being told to shut up by people who are verbally abusive most of the time and stay quiet when they should speak up”.

This disruption comes after the University agreed to review their investments in arms companies, following over a month of pressure from the Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) encampment.

The encampment was first set up outside King’s College by C4P in May, calling on the University to disclose its holdings in companies associated with Israel, and to subsequently divest from them.

The encampment closed following an agreement with the University to establish a working group with a student-led taskforce to review arms investments. The review was planned to take place “rapidly during Michaelmas Term 2024 […] with the aim of arriving at initial positions by the end of the term”.

Professor Vira was at the forefront of the University’s response to the Cambridge for Palestine’s encampment, leading discussions with the group along with pro-vice chancellor for University community and engagement Professor Kamal Munir.

The University of Cambridge has been contacted for comment.