Pro-Palestine protesters end occupation of Melbourne University building after 10 days

Pro-Palestine protesters have finally ended their occupation of The University of Melbourne’s Arts West Building, tearing down posters and packing up their tents after a 10-day sit in.

Pro-Palestine protesters have finally ended their occupation of The University of Melbourne’s Arts West Building, after camping inside it for the past 10 days.

Dozens of posters and a Palestine flag that were tacked onto the windows were ripped off on Friday morning, with supporters also seen dismantling tents and packing up camping chairs that previously crowded the ground floor.

Inside the building, campers were observed sweeping the floors and gathering their belongings, while chalk with the words “Mahmoud’s Hall” remained scrawled on the staircase wall.

Students continued to cover their faces as they left the building with pillows, blankets, wrapped up tents and chairs.

While we might be packing up our sit-in and encampment for now, this will always be Mahmoud’s Hall, in honour of all of the students who have been martyred in Gaza.

We will not stop, we will not rest, until the University of Melbourne divests! pic.twitter.com/Z9HJoaUND5

— Unimelb for Palestine (@Umelb4Palestine) May 24, 2024

The hall remained closed to students, staff and visitors due to safety concerns with security continuing to guard who could enter.

Meanwhile the tent city on the South Lawn was slowly being taken down, with patches of dead grass seen where the tents once stood.

In a statement from Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell said he was pleased to say that the university had achieved a “peaceful resolution” amid the occupation of the Arts West building and the South Lawn encampment.

“Through our continued engagement with students and staff members over several months, we have heard that some members of our community have a renewed interest in our research program,” Prof Maskell said.

“We have updated our Middle East Conflict website with further information on these matters with a particular focus on our commitments regarding transparency.

“We remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming community and environment for all students and staff.”

Pro-Palestine protesters leave the Arts West Building on Friday. Picture: Rebecca Borg

The occupation of the building dragged on for more than a week. Picture: Rebecca Borg

Chairs stacked up as protesters finally call time on their sit-in. Picture: Rebecca Borg

Tents remained on the university’s South Lawn on Friday. Picture: Rebecca Borg

Students gathered piles of blankets and pillows, as they worked to determine who provided each donated item.

“While we might be packing up our sit-in and encampment for now, this will always be Mahmoud’s Hall, in honour of all of the students who have been martyred in Gaza,” UniMelb for Palestine said in a social media post.

“We will not stop, we will not rest, until the University of Melbourne divests!”

The protesters announced on Wednesday they were ending their encampment after Melbourne University said it would disclose ties to weapons makers.

But they remained in the building on Thursday after some said they weren’t satisfied with the university’s statement on the issue.

Elsewhere, Deakin University protesters were also expected to take down their camp today following several calls from deputy Vice Chancellor Kerry Parker to have the camp removed.

The encampment at RMIT still remains standing and it’s unclear when or if it will be closed.