Pro-Palestine students have accused Cambridge of “breaking” their agreement, through which Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) dismantled their encampment in return for a review of University arms investments.

Cambridge for Palestine claims that the University has “stalled” its commitments to students, “erased” Palestine from its review of arms ties, and “weaponised bureaucracy to reduce student power”.

This comes after the University admitted to delays in its review of its defence investments. The deadline for findings was pushed back from the end of this term to the end of the academic year. In addition, Varsity has revealed that the review’s working group had not yet met.

C4P, the student group which set up an encampment on King’s Parade in May, has accused the University of “erasing” Palestine and Gaza from its review of arms ties.

The University’s initial offer of the review said that University leadership “share the horror of our students at the loss of life” in Gaza. C4P has drawn attention to the absence of this language in the University’s most recent statement. This notice does not name Palestine, Gaza, or Cambridge for Palestine.

The arms review has been adjusted to cover the demands of 165 academic and admin staff who formally called on Cambridge to divest from the defence industry. This staff-submitted motion does not mention Israel or Palestine.

University Council, Cambridge’s executive decision-making body, has indicated that it will produce a report detailing the extent of the University’s ties to weapons, and the feasibility of distancing from these industries.

But, C4P claims that the University has “manipulated” this working group by “collapsing two initiatives into one”. Two student members of the pro-Palestine group will be part of this review, while C4P claims that six students and six academics were supposed to be given membership.

This will “create a power dynamic that isolates and intimidates student representatives,” C4P said. Varsity understands that some academics involved in the divestment motion will be nominated to the group.

C4P also hit out at hold ups in the review, accusing the University of “months of unresponsiveness and delays”. The group said: “This massive delay and disregard for urgency during the ever-escalating genocide is unacceptable.” Cambridge has not responded to the group’s claims.

Jason Scott-Warren, an English academic and member of University Council, told Varsity that he fears Cambridge “may be watering down undertakings made to students at the encampment”.

C4P has said that it will cooperate in the review “to extend good faith,” but that it expects the University to “increase student and faculty representation” in decisions over arms ties.

Following the dismantling of its encampment in early August, Cambridge for Palestine has continued to hold pro-Palestine protests at the University. On Sunday (17/11), the group accused Trinity College of “betrayal,” after Varsity revealed that Cambridge’s richest college has “no interest” in divesting from arms, contrary to reports.

An online fundraiser for donations to support the “operations and actions” of pro-Palestine protesters at Cambridge has collected over £15,000. The initiative is run by “mutual aid for Cambridge student organisers”.

The University of Cambridge was contacted for comment.