Adelaide pro-Palestine protesters say they will be ‘taking up other tactics’ following the ending of their encampment

The local arm of the protest movement that’s popped up on campuses around the world say they now have new plans to pursue.

Students camped out at Adelaide University to protest the war in Gaza have announced they will be packing up their encampment.

But they say they are not giving up on their cause.

After four weeks of protesting, the Students for Palestine group says it has decided to bring its encampment – which they wanted to draw attention to connections between the University of Adelaide and defence and military-focussed companies – to an end.

But activist El Hall said they were “not giving up” and would instead be “taking up other tactics”, such as protesting during exams.

El Hallat the Adelaide Uni Gaza Solidarity Encampment at the Maths Lawns earlier this month. Picture: Mark Brake

“We just want to say that this is our own violation, we’re ending on a high note,” Hall told The Advertiser.

“We all decided together that the best thing for us to do moving forward is to continue our activism down different avenues; I think we need to view the encampment as the first step in a really long process.”

Some of their tactics will include protesting over the exam period and into the winter break.

Hall said Students for Palestine was also building towards a student general meeting where members could vote on a motion to demand the university cut ties with firms they say support Israel in the war in Gaza.

Hall said they had more than 300 signatures supporting their divestment petition.

Students for Palestine Protesting in Adelaide CBD and walking down Rundle Mall. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“We are aware of the university funding weapon manufacturing companies which in turn enable Israel to inflict death upon millions in Gaza,” Hall said.

“This includes the university’s participation in the Defence Trailblazer program, which involves weapons companies such as Babcock, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Thales.”

“We are going to submit Freedom of Information requests and stuff and then we will publish them for the students to learn about.

“Our big goal is now is for divestment; we want the university to cut their ties with the big companies and the little ones.”

The Students for Palestine group organised its final rally on Tuesday at 2pm.

The University of Adelaide spokesperson said it had heard the demands of the protesters and were deciding what to do next.

“(The university) has a responsibility to students and staff to provide a safe environment on campus, we take that responsibility seriously and will take action where that is required.”