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UBC Hunger Strike Updates

Check back daily for more information on what is going on with the UBC student hunger strike. Each day will be summarized below. These updates are provided directly from the students participating in the hunger strike.

Day 12

Hunger Strike Day 12, Day 539 of Israel’s Accelerated Genocide in Palestine.

  • The Ministry of Health in Gaza said Israeli attacks have killed 896 people and wounded 1,984 in the territory

  • 41 Palestinians killed, 2 bodies recovered, 115 injured in Gaza in 24 hrs

  • First Israeli attack on Beirut since Nov ceasefire; multiple attacks on south Lebanon killed 3 people, injured 10, including 3 children

  • Palestinian Red Crescent refutes reports that bodies of 14 missing paramedics & civil defence were found in Rafah — Israeli army deliberately blocks search efforts, yesterday’s search team uncovered the 4 ambulances completely destroyed and buried

  • 8 Palestinians, including kids, killed by Israeli army bombardment on Gaza City; Israeli army blowing up homes in Beit Lahia (north)

  • 2 separate attacks on Khan Younis killed 3 Palestinians, injured 7; Israeli army drone targeted group of Palestinians in Rafah killing 2 people

  • World Food Program: Food prices surge in Gaza amid total aid blockade; more bakeries forced to shut with lack of cooking gas

In the West Bank

  • Settlers severely beat and injured 5 Palestinian shepherds in Masafer Yatta

  • Israeli army stormed Beit Ummar & Arroub camp, fired tear gas and live bullets injuring at least 3 people

  • The Israeli military has carried out raids across the occupied West Bank over recent hours, including: The at-Taawon neighbourhood in the city of Nablus; the village of Beit Umrin, west of Nablus; and the village of Janba in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron

  • Medics treating teenage girl, Palestinian man beaten by Israeli forces The Palestine Red Crescent Society has said its medics are treating an 18-year-old girl and a 40-year-old Palestinian man who were beaten by Israeli forces in their home in the at-Taawon neighbourhood in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus

  • Israeli forces have also arrested Palestinian man Mahmoud Awada after raiding his home in at-Taawon. It’s currently unclear if the two incidents are related

  • Israeli forces have also stormed the Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem

Video footage refutes account by Israeli forces following settler attack on Palestinians: Video footage obtained by the AP news agency and backed up by testimonies from Palestinian witnesses refutes the official account by Israeli forces after Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the south of the occupied West Bank on Friday.

Footage from one camera shows vehicles speeding up to the edge of the village of Jinba. A number of settlers pile out and run out of the frame as the screams of Palestinian women can be heard.

Many of the settlers are masked and at least three are carrying bats or sticks, with one armed with an assault rifle. One can be seen throwing a rock, and then bending to collect more.

Palestinian Oula Awad told AP the settlers approached her house between 8am and 9am as her son, Qusai, 17, and husband, Aziz, 63, were washing up to prepare for Ramadan prayers.

In security footage taken from a second camera, settlers are seen converging on the teenager. One settler begins hitting him with a stick as he tries to run away. Another settler smashes his head with a rock, sending him to the ground. Four settlers then kick and beat him before running away. Five Palestinians remain in hospital after the attack.

Following the incident, Israeli police said they arrested 22 Palestinians from the village on suspicion of stone-throwing and brought them in for further investigation.

They said Palestinians had attacked two settler shepherds nearby, slightly injuring them.

  • US military bombs Yemen more than 70 times on Friday

Another day of mass slaughter. Another day of outright compelicenty and callous disregard of Palestinian human life.

On the Hunger Strike

On Day 12 of the Hunger strike, the protesting students experienced muscle weakness, lightheadedness, intestinal upset, and one was experiencing debilitating bouts of nausea. Today, the Board of Governor’s meeting occurred, which was the focus of the Hunger Strikers’ demand for being heard. We were disappointed, but not surprised, that divestment was not discussed. The Hunger Strikers who had registered to attend received emails stating that registration was closed and thus were shut out from even observing in person. This is unsurprising considering the coalition had asked for meetings with the Board of Governors for months and been ignored. In written correspondence, VP External Relations Melanie Stewart stated that “To be included in an upcoming meeting, correspondence must be submitted at least three business days in advance,” and yet coalition correspondence sent to the Board on February 12th setting out a Responsible Investment Proposal had not been included and certainly was not debated. Instead Miranda Lim smiled and smiled and was collegial as bombs dropped on children’s heads. The more bombs drop, the more profit UBC’s endowment makes. Hunger strikers’ debilitating bouts of nausea are understandable in these circumstances.

Before and during the meeting, other student groups blocked the entrance to the Alumni Centre to express their disagreement with the Board’s failure to act. Student protestors also attempted to access the alumni building at the start of the BOG meeting to present a document outlining student divestment demands and were denied entry by RCMP and campus security. Protestors stationed at each exit attempted to communicate student demands and frustration with BOG members as they exited and were met with indifference.

This is the level of unresponsiveness that the university is showing to the urgent call of students, staff, and faculty for UBC to stop profiting off the genocide of the Palestinian people . This moment has shown the true undemocratic and unaccountable face of the university and strengthens our resolve to continue and redouble our efforts.

Day 11

Hunger Strike Day 11 and Day 538 of Israels Accelerated Genocide in Palestine.

  • 63 Palestinians killed, 1 body recovered, 206 injured in Gaza in 48 hours

In Gaza City (north)

  • Deadly Israeli airstrike on busy marketplace in Daraj massacred over Palestinians, leaving shocking aftermath with blood-stained streets

  • Israeli army bombed Awad family home overnight in Zeitoun murdering at least 3 Palestinians and injuring dozens more

  • Israeli army bombed residential building in Saftawi murdering over 7 Palestinians, including a family of 6 and critically injuring almost 20 people. There are still 4 people missing and believed to be trapped under the rubble of the bombed home

  • Issued forced displacement orders for Zeitoun, Tal al-Hawa and Sheikh Ijlin neighbourhoods

  • Israeli army targeted and killed Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua by bombing his tent in Jabalia

  • Palestinian Red Crescent reached Tal as-Sultan in Rafah and recovered the body of 1 civil defence worker amid heavy Israeli army presence in area for past 5 days, after abducting 9 PRCS paramedics who are still missing

  • Israeli airstrikes targeted 3 homes in Khan Younis (south) killing 1 young Palestinian and injuring at least 4; attacked tents in “safe zone” al-Mawasi killing 1 person

  • Israeli continues its 3 week blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza

  • The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned of the “dire conditions” faced by people newly displaced by the Israeli military’s forced displacement orders in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya areas. “With limited food and water, some of them now live in makeshift tents on the main street near the UNRWA Gaza main compound,” the UN agency said

In the West Bank

  • Israeli army shot and killed an 18 year old Palestinian in Nablus, seized his body. Israeli army shot and injured an 18 year old Askar al-Jadid camp, a 15 year old in Balata camp, and two 16 year olds in Hebron

  • Israeli army blocked full access to Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque for 4th consecutive Friday

  • Israeli military besieges house in Jenin, blocks ambulance -Israeli military has besieged a house in the town of Anza, south of Jenin

  • Israeli military raids have also been reported in the following locations: The Rafidia neighbourhood, west of the city of Nablus; the town of az-Zawiya, south of Jenin; and the town of Nilin, west of Ramallah

  • Further US strikes conducted in Yemen, at least 7 people injured

On the Hunger Strike

Our Hunger Strikers continue to lose weight and are now taking more time to rest due to fatigue. The recent events on campus; teach ins, art events, poetry reading, interview with multiple media outlets etc have been incredible, and to see the community rise up in support and solidarity is heartening and inspiring. But it has been emotionally difficult for the strikers, especially in light of the continued massacres witnessed daily in Palestine, and with a continuing decrease in energy levels. But despite it all they remain firm strong in their commitment, their Sumud. As hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza face starvation, the hungers strikers stand firm in their act of solidarity with the people there. And as frustration with the administration’s cowardice mounts, further escalations by the greater UBC community, desperate for the slaughter to end, can be expected in the future.

Day 10

Day 10 of the Hunger Strike. Day 537 of Israel’s Accelerated Genocide in Palestine.

  • As dozens more Palestinians were murdered in Gaza, UNRWA has reported today that no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza in over 3 weeks, the longest that Gaza has been without aid for 537 days. The agency’s commissioner reports “Parents cannot find food for their children. The sick are without medicine. Prices are soaring Hunger is increasing while the risk of diseases spreading is looming.” According to the World Food Program, remaining food stocks will last only two weeks. And supplies of medial stocks, cooking gas and fuel are dangerously low. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are at grave risk of severe hunger and malnutrition

  • A new investigation shows that the Israeli army is deliberately targeting Palestinian journalists, especially those using drones

  • In Gaza City, Israel issued new evacuation orders for Palestinian families (who have no where else to go), and are bombarding residential areas and makeshift tents

  • Israeli forces launched attacks on central Gaza including on an aid kitchen in Nuseirat refugee camp, murdering at least 13 Palestinians

  • Israel carried out a series of violent raids across the occupied West Bank, shooting and killing a Palestinian near Huwara, and arresting at least 12 Palestinians, vandalizing shops, and carrying out field interrogations across the region

  • Israel’s military says this past week alone it struck 430 “targets” in Gaza, 40 in Lebanon, and 18 in Syria

  • Euro-Med reports that two Palestinians murdered in Israeli attacks were government officials working in the education sector. Jihad al Agha, the head of the supervision department at the East Khan Younis Education Directorate was killed in a raid targeting his home on March 23 along with his wife, child, and 3 daughters. Manar Abu Khater, the director of education in East Khan Younis was killed with his 2 sons in an Israeli air strike on Khan Younis on March 24

  • Israeli army air strikes in southern Lebanon kill at least 6 people

  • Israel renews attacks in Syria in and around the port city of Latakia

  • US bombs northern Yemen killing at least 2 people

-BREAKING: Israel has killed at least 20 Palestinians in Gaza overnight and this morning with several more wounded. Israeli forces are targeting homes and tents housing displaced people across the Gaza Strip.

On The Strikers

The UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campus hunger strikers continued another day of extreme protest to render the demand of UBC students, staff, and faculty as clear as possible: divestment from weapons manufacturers and the corporations that sustain apartheid and genocide. In the face of continued apathy from UBC administration, hunger strikers continue to lose weight and experience the fatigue of over 10 days of starvation.

Though this is little in comparison to the Palestinians’ continued struggle for survival, a bare life forced upon them, it is nevertheless a shock for the starvation of UBC students to be met with empty words and bureaucratic non-sequiturs by the few with power to divest from genocide. As the hunger strikers continue their work, they encourage everyone, especially the UBC administration, to see this fast as not only a refusal of food, but a refusal of complicity to genocide, a refusal of administration’s attempt to make the dilemma of investment in genocide a complex one, and a refusal of a future wherein academic institutions are allowed to profit off the genocide, scholasticide, and memoricide of Indigenous peoples.

We will continue strong in our fight to force UBC to divest from the war machine that is perpetrating the horrors we are witnessing every minute of every day in Palestine, and around the world. We will not stop. We will not Rest.

Day 9

Day 9 of the Hunger Strike, Day 2 of the Student Strike, and Day 536 of Israel’s Accelerated Genocide In Palestine.

  • BREAKING: Israel kills 11 Palestinians in Gaza in the early hours of the morning including another and her 6 year old son
  • US continues the bombing of Yemin
  • 62 have been people killed, 296 injured in Gaza in last 24 hours.
  • Israeli court upheld 6-month detention order for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya from Gaza, claiming he’s an “unlawful combatant”. The UBC Hunger Strike has renamed “The Nest”, now a Palestine liberation space, in honour of him. Dr. Abu Safiya, Pediatrician and Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital was arrested at gunpoint on December 28th 2024 during the Israeli assault against the last functioning medical facility in Northern Gaza. Despite Israeli’s continued attacks and bombardments, Dr. Abu Safiya had vowed to stay in the hospital and continue to treat patients. He was then transferred to the Sde Teiman torture camp where at least 36 Palestinians (including doctors) have died since Oct 2023. He has since suffered a severe eye injury, and was placed in solitary confinement for 25 days with one of his interrogations lasting 13 days.
  • In Khan Younis, Israeli army bombing of tents killed at least 8 people, including a family of 5 and 4 children. Airstrike on house killed 2 people, including 1 child. Israel bombed tents, targeted group of civilians, & drone strikes in al-Mawasi “safe zone” killing at least 4 people
  • Israeli army continues car bombings in Bureij, Sabra and Rafah killing and injuring many
  • Israeli army bombed home in Bureij killing 5 people; bombed residential block in Nuseirat demolishing dozens of homes
  • Israel targeted home in Beit Lahia (north), killing 4 people; artillery shelling on Beit Lahia and Jabalia
  • Israeli army abducted 15 paramedics & civil defence in Rafah, with 9 other paramedics still missing

In the West Bank

  • Jenin: Israeli army abducted a family of 3 after besieging home; shot at car, injuring 3 people
  • Israeli army abducted 25 Palestinians overnight

Israeli air strikes in Syria

A distress call has been issued by the residents of Koya village in western Daraa countryside, amid reports that the number of killed has risen to seven, with dozens wounded due to the intense shelling carried out by the Israeli occupation army on the town.

Medical teams are facing great difficulty in rescuing the injured due to the ongoing bombardment.

At the same time, residents of Koya have made urgent calls for doctors and nurses to head to medical points in the Yarmouk Basin area, given the emergency situation and the large number of wounded in need of immediate medical intervention.

On the Hunger Strike

As the war machine marches on, UBC students, staff, and faculty completed day 9 of our hunger strike.

Today, at the Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya building (formally known as “The Nest”), the hunger strikers supported the student strikers on the second day of their strike. The community created a visual art project for Hossam Shabat, the Palestinian journalist deliberately targeted and murdered by the Israeli army yesterday. A series of events was held, including a teach in, with the choir Solidarity Notes singing protests song. Other speeches and rallies occurred throughout the day.

Mid day, news that the Koerner Library, local of the office of President Bacon, had been occupied by student strikers, so the assembled people proceeded to the library in support. After being blocked from entry by UBC security, they chanted outside for a while, then returned to the Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya building.

Our new community space was hung with flags of Palestine and Lebanon to show that the student union building has now become a gathering place for the Palestine solidarity movement.

On day 9, our hunger strikers are in good shape and spirits. They offered their experiences and thoughts to the crowd in our new communal space. Battling a constant low level of fatigue, the stickers do need to take frequent rest breaks. However, they are strong in their commitment to carry on.

Day 2 of the UBCO Hunger Strike occurred, with the strikers engaging with many activities with the community. They have posted their personal statements publicly for the world to understand their perspective on the genocide in Gaza and their reasons for joining in the hunger strike.

Shamefully, and despite daily letters, the UBC administration has yet to respond to the hunger strikers or to acknowledge their concerns. This reflects, yet again the administration’s dismissive attitude to the concerns of the strikers and the greater UBC community, and shows the lengths they will go to to ignore these concerns, which have been raised over and over again.

After a historic referendum calling for divestment and a historic student strike action yesterday on the first day, where the students shut down “North America’s” busiest bus line for 5 hours, the administration is still closing to ignore rather than engage with students, who are pushing for meaningful dialogue about investment. This is nothing short of cowardice. UBC administration, you are cowards. We call upon you to respond immediately to the concerns of your students, staff, and faculty, and the greater community.

Day 8

Hunger Strike Day 8, Day 1 on Student Strike, Day 535 of Israel’s accelerated genocide in Palestine.

  • Israel killed 2 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, Mohammad Mansour and Hossam Shabat — killing 208 journalists in Gaza since Oct 7
  • Israeli army fired explosives at Red Cross building in Rafah. 6 medics still missing after Israeli army besieged rescue mission yesterday
  • 57 Palestinians killed, 134 injured in Gaza in 24 hrs
  • 17 year old Palestinian died in Israeli captivity – first documented minor killed in occupation prisons
  • Israeli army airstrikes targeted displacement tents, homes and schools across Gaza killing at least 11 people, including a child in Khan Younis, and raided a home killing 4 people inside; bombed tent in Nuseirat school-shelter killing 3 people including 2 children
  • In Gaza City, the Israeli army bombed home in Shujayea killing 4 people
  • Israeli army shelled a school in Tuffah
  • Israeli army targeted and bombed several cars across Gaza killing at least people, injuring 7
  • Settlers seized and settled in Palestinian home in Hebron Israeli army coordination
  • As of writing, 23 Palestinians killed in pre-dawn attacks in Gaza, including 7 children

Student Strike

As Israeli continued to commit war crime after war crime in Gaza and the West Bank, the UBC Hunger Strike, entering it’s 8th day, received a tremendous outpouring of support. The AMS sanctioned student strike for divestment began this morning. Students rallied at MacInnes Field, the site of last year’s 70 day encampment for divestment, then swiftly moved to the nearby bus loop. Picketing and chanting, within their charter rights, students expressed their deep dissent with the university’s lack of response institutionally to scholasticide, genocide and the vicious ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza. This peaceful and well organized student protest caused delays and an eventual 5 hour shut down of Canada’s busiest bus line.

The hunger strikers joined and supported the student strike. But the cold, rain, and fatigue of the 8th day of strike caused one of the strikers to retire early. They are now, after resting, feeling better, but need to curtail some of their physical exertions at this point in time.

The students eventually gathered their materials and dispersed, leaving the university with a clear indication as to the depth of their commitment. All other avenues of protest have been ignored by the administration.

Also today, students from UBCO, in solidarity with those at UBCV have launched a hunger strike citing "UBC’s double standards in investment practices and ongoing financial ties to weapons manufacturers and corporations designated by the United Nations as complicit in violations of international law.” They have stated the same demands as the Hunger and Student strikers at UBCV.

Meanwhile, the response from the UBC administration, now facing a hunger strike on both campuses, as well as a student strike? Silence. Cowardly, immoral, silence.

UBC administration you have the option to chose divestment at any time. Our protest has now gripped both campuses and shows no sign of stopping or slowing down. How much longer can you let this inaction stain your administration? History will not forgive, nor forget.

Day 7

Hunger Strike Day 7, Day 534 or Israel’s accelerated Genocide in Palestine. Israel committed multiple war crimes and massacres across Gaza today as we, the students, faculty, and staff of UBC continue strong in our hunger strike to try to shame the UBC administration into divesting from the companies that supply the Israeli war machine.

  • Israeli airstrike targeted Nasser Hospital’s emergency unit, killing 5 Palestinians including a Hamas political official while receiving treatment. Hospital now partially out of service — only 3 hospitals still functioning in south Gaza
  • The Israeli army besieged Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic team in Rafah; still no contact after over 15 hours as the Israeli army refuses to coordinate with the PRCS
  • 39 Palestinians killed, 2 bodies recovered, 61 injured in Gaza in 24 hours
  • Israel targeted buildings & tents in Rafah & Khan Younis killing over 23 Palestinians including senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil & his wife while they slept in a tent. Many are still trapped under rubble.
  • Israeli army expanding ground invasion of north Gaza focusing on Beit Hanoon — released footage of troops firing at Palestinians
  • Israeli army besieges Tal al-Sultan near Rafah after ordering displacement to “safe zone” al-Mawasi
  • North: Israeli army attacks on Tuffah & Zeitoun killed 11 Palestinians; separate attacks on Beit Lahia killed 6 people

Massacres Throughout Gaza

Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-sharif reports the horrors on the ground.

  • civilians have been rounded up in a hole in Rafah and shot dead at point blank range
  • in north Gaza people are reporting they’re being bombed with weapons they haven’t been subjected to in the past.

In so called Vancouver, multiple organizations have put out statements today in support of and solidarity with tomorrow’s upcoming student strike for divestment, including McGill University, AGSA endorsement, Trans Coalition, HSA, and Sprouts. As student, faculty, staff, and community support continue to multiply, the only possible reason for the UBC administration’s silence is racism. It is only because this genocide is being perpetrated against the majority Muslim Arabic Palestinians that it is funded and encouraged by the powers that govern us. We call upon the UBC administration to remember it’s response to Russia’s aggressions against Ukraine, where it immediately, without prompting, condemned Russian human rights violations and encouraged increased support for Ukrainians, Belarusians and Russians. You also agreed to suspend current and future academic relations with Russian governmental entities indefinitely.

And yet 534 days into an accelerated genocide in Palestine, the UBC administration has failed to even acknowledge that a genocide is occurring, let alone made any move to divest from or boycott any institutions tied to the illegal Israeli occupation. This is a result of the racism inherent in our western colonial institutions, including UBC.

Will the administration finally respond to a student strike? Will it listen to it’s students, faculty, and staff, and members of the community, people of conscience who refuse to stand by while Palestinians are slaughtered in horrifying numbers on a daily basis? Or will it continue to, in it’s silence, further expose its racism in refusing to see Palestinian lives?

From the Hunger Strike Zone

The hunger strikers have lost 3kg each in less than a week, and have begun experiencing headaches, lightheadedness, exhaustion, insomnia, and skin problems. Their voluntary starvation, however, is a pale shadow of the devastating conditions facing Palestinians in Gaza, who are on their 22nd day of total siege. Apartheid Israel has cut all water, food, electricity, medical supplies, shelter, and humanitarian aid to over 2 million people living in a bombscape. As Professor Roosa stated in his teach-in titled “Hunger, Hunger Strikes, and the Bare Life” at the Hunger Strike Zone on March 20th, “there is an enforced hunger that [the Palestinians] have been living with, and there’s no reason for it. It is unexcusable. It is unjustifiable. Everybody knows that, and yet it continues to happen. And therefore we have to continue to resist.”

Day 6

Day 6 of the Hunger Strike and day 533 of Israel’s accelerated genocide in Palestine. As day 6 of the hunger strike concludes, the following atrocities have occurred at the hands of Israel:

  • Israel claims launching 200+ strikes on Gaza, Lebanon, & Syria since last night
  • 128 Palestinians killed, 2 bodies recovered, 263 injured in Gaza in 48 hrs
  • Heavy attacks on north Gaza — killing 3 people including a child, injuring 5 near Beit Lahia; drone strike targeted tent camp killing 2 Palestinians; artillery fire in Beit Lahia killed 1 person
  • Israel launches deadly attacks across south Lebanon killing 7 people including a child & injuring 40 — claiming its in response to rocket fired from Lebanon for which Hezbollah denied responsibility
  • Major Israeli army airstrike on Tuffah (north) killed 5 Palestinians, 8 still buried under rubble. Drone strike targeted group in Tal as-Sultan (south) killing 4 Palestinians
  • 120,000+ Palestinians displaced in Gaza in past few days
  • Breaking: Israel kills at least 18 Palestinians in pre dawn attacks on Gaza

Israel is using the holy month of Ramadan to further perpetrate its ethnic cleansing of Palestine, continuing its illegal settler colonial project. Palestinian families sitting down together for Iftar are being slaughtered in their homes. The weapons and intelligence technologies used to perpetrate this genocide are produced by all of the 17 weapon manufacturing and military technology companies in which UBC has invested at least $116 million dollars.

After 5 days of 12-hour shifts at Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Place (formerly known as The Nest), the hunger strikers are resting at home over the weekend to build up energy to attend the student strike action on Monday March 24th on what will be day 8 of their hunger strike. The hunger strikers express their solidarity with the unprecedented 76% majority UBC Vancouver student vote calling for strike action for Palestine. Many campus groups have likewise written statements of support for the student strike, and some departments have determined to cancel all classes, showing the very broad base of support this student-led action has catalyzed. Large swathes of UBC students, staff, and faculty have had enough of UBC’s failure to respond to genocide and to uphold basic human decency. On Monday, many will voice their protest.

Students, staff, and faculty stand firm in their Hunger Strike demanding that UBC divest from these companies. The reality that this is something that the UBC administration is not even willing to acknowledge at this point is a disgusting stain on the institution that will remain forever. But the administration can still choose to do the right thing. Education should not be funded by human suffering. In coming together as a community to support the Hunger Strike, we are creating and fostering the bonds that will give us the strength and courage to continue the long fight for a Free and Just Palestine. The UBC administration has what would seem an easy role to play in this, and can easily divest from the war machine. We, the UBC students, staff and faculty, call upon the administration to do so. Immediately. And until this is accomplished, we stand strong in our commitment to the Hunger Strike.

Day 5

Day 5 Of the Hunger Strike and day 532 of Israel’s accelerated genocide.

  • 590 Palestinians, including 200 children, killed in Gaza since Tuesday
  • Israel’s domestic intel chief confirmed that Netanyahu deliberately blocked ceasefire negotiations and progress
  • In North Gaza, an Israeli army airstrike killed 6 children and injured many in Tuffah neighborhood; an airstrike targeted a home in Jabalia killing 1 person; Israeli army sniped & injured a disabled Palestinian youth in Maghraqa village
  • Israeli army ordered immediate displacement of 3 north Gaza areas by threatening airstrikes
  • Israel bombed Gaza’s only cancer hospital
  • Israeli army tanks push into residential areas in Beit Lahia (North Gaza)
  • According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society only 23 of 53 emergency vehicles are operational in Gaza due to total aid and fuel blockade
  • UNRWA flour supply to last 6 days in Gaza
  • Israeli army targeted a home in Khan Younis killing a mother & her child; drone strike injured 2 people in Rafah. Palestinians in Rafah flee to al-Mawasi amid intensified assaults

In The West Bank

Israeli army forcibly expelled 100 Palestinian families from their homes in Tulkarem.

The Conditions in Gaza

As the Israeli genocide in Gaza continues at a horrifying rate, we would like to make the administration aware of the following regarding the conditions for those still alive in Gaza.

First is the eradication of shelter by Israel, with over 90% of Gaza’s population displaced, and 92% of homes severely damaged or destroyed. This leaves over 1 million Palestinians in desperate need of shelter, as winter conditions are causing babies to freeze to death.

Second is forced starvation. Israel has destroyed 75% of Gaza’s croplands, 68% of cultivated land, 72% of Gaza’s fishing fleet, and 95% of livestock. This is also an ecocide and mass slaughter of animal life. Over 90% of people there now face dangerous levels of food insecurity. This makes the population almost entirely dependant on outside aid, which Israeli has been actively blocking since Oct 7th 2023. Malnutrition is making the population highly vulnerable to disease, especially the children and elderly. Right now, over 80,000 children need treatment for acute malnutrition which even if received now, will have caused permanent physical and emotional damage. This comes after the 18 year Israeli siege that has restricted the calorie count of the Palestinian population down to the last resident.

Third is a lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with Israel having destroyed over 80% of WASH infrastructure. Due to Israeli’s 18 year siege on Gaza, the population already existed on below recommended levels. Currently, in Rafah and North Gaza, people have access 5.7L of water, enough for one toilet flush.

Fourth is the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare, in over 650 attacks by Israel. Over 1000 health care workers have been killed, and only 60% of hospitals remain partially operational. Over 12,000 people are in urgent need of medical evacuation. This is a deliberate attempt to make Gaza inhospitable and to annihilate the Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel is a settler colonial project enacting a genocide of a people they have held under an illegal apartheid system for over 76 years. Every single day the situation gets worse, with Israel committing the most horrific atrocities we have ever seen in our lifetime, live-streamed. This must stop. UBC must divest. Your complacency is complicity.

The students have spoken. We do not want our scholarship money funded by human suffering. So we will continue, strong, in our hunger strike to this end.

From the Hunger Strike Zone

The hunger strikers are tiring more easily, often feel chilled, and notice mild changes to their skin and teeth. They are continuing with daily check-ins with no cause for alarm, and are still in good spirits. Renowned scholars have generously offered teach-ins at the Hunger Strike Zone of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Place. On March 19th Glen Coulthard presented “Palestinians and Native Peoples are Comrades: The Political Economy of Indigenous/Palestinian Solidarity,” on March 20th John Roosa spoke of “Hunger, Hunger Strikes, and Bare Life,” and on March 21st Adel Iskandar presented “(Re)Drawing Palestine.” All three talks were livestreamed and highly appreciated by the audience and hunger strikers. Artist A.S. Dhillon also brought his art installation “School Colours” onto campus, where it became a photo opportunity for tourists and passersby, who took pictures of themselves standing beside the art when it was installed in front of the UBC sign at the entry to campus.

Day 4

As Day 4 of our Hunger Strike unfolded, Day 531 of the accelerated genocide by Israel in Gaza continues at a horrifying rate with over 600 Palestinians murdered in the last 3 days.

The Israeli army invaded north and south Gaza through Beit Lahia and Rafah. They blocked movement from north to south by Salah al-Din St by expanding the buffer zone along Netzarim.

  • Israeli army airstrikes targeted and flattened over 11 buildings across Gaza
  • 85 Palestinians killed, 133 injured in Gaza in 24 hrs
  • Israeli army bombed homes in Khan Younis, killing over 15 Palestinians, injuring 40; a baby was rescued from rubble after her family was killed
  • Israeli army ordered forced displacement of 4th Khan Younis neighbourhood
  • 5 UNRWA staff killed in Gaza in past few days

In The West Bank

  • Israel destroyed 87 buildings in Jenin, including 3-6 living units
  • Israeli army abducted 60 Palestinians headed to Al-Aqsa Mosque

"710 martyrs and more than 900 wounded were transferred to hospitals in the past 48 hours. 70% of the wounded are women and children, most of whom are in critical condition. Some wounded passed away from receiving no medical care due to a lack of medical equipment.” — Spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital

Today, the hunger strikers continue with more weight loss for participants, but they are in good spirits, and grateful for the positive interactions they are having with the community. Our team has expanded with the joining of a new member who has decided to show their support by beginning a hunger strike as well. The administration have not replied to any of the hunger strikers’ letters to date.

In light of having to witness the massacre of almost 600 Palestinians in 3 days, with many more wounded, the fact that the UBC administration is ignoring the Hunger Strike is absolutely despicable. How can any human being of conscience watch live, the murder of women, children, men, entire families, while the others not killed in immediate violence are starving, and dying from injuries and diseases that are treatable but for lack of supplies. The lack of response from the UBC administration only affirms us in our commitment to the Hunger Strike. We will continue forward with the great example of the Palestinian Sumud, steadfastness, as our example. Students are putting themselves at the risk of serious and permanent harm because we cannot live watching a genocide live on our phones. UBC, are you listening?

Day 3

On day 530 of Israel’s accelerated genocide in Gaza, the Hunger Strikers commenced day 3 of embarking on an extreme act of protest to call upon UBC to divest from the companies complicit in the Palestinian genocide.

  • Israel breaks ceasefire & launches new ground invasion — reoccupying Netzarim Corridor splitting Gaza in half again after its withdrawal a month ago, blocking movement. Israel continues intense bombing across the Gaza Strip.
  • 70 Palestinians killed in Gaza today
  • Sporadic explosions in eastern areas of Deir el-Balah and escalating expansion in Nuseirat adjacent to Netzarim
  • Israel targeted a group of mourners in Beit Lahia (north), massacring over 16 Palestinians. Airstrikes targeting homes in Gaza City killing 2 people in Zeitoun and 3 people in Sabra
  • Explosive ordinance targeted UN-staff building in Deir el-Balah killing 1 Bulgarian staff member, injuring 5
  • Israeli army bombed vehicle in Rafah (south) killing over 5 people; drone strike targeted tent in Khan Younis killing 4 people including 2 year old child and injured another toddler
  • Israeli airstrikes target a food aid distribution warehouse and prayer hall in the Ma’an area fearer Khan Yunius
  • US strikes target Yemen’s capital for 6th day, injuring over 9 people

In the West Bank

  • IOF special forces raided al-Ein camp in Nablus, fired at car killing 1 Palestinian, injuring 3 & forcibly displaced 80+ families

Airstrike Toll on Gaza Tonight

  • Massacre at Abu Deeb family home – Bani Suheila
  • Massacre at Abu Daqah family home – Abasan Al-Kabira
  • Massacre at Al-Mujaida family home – Miraj
  • Massacre at Abu Daqah family home – Al-Fakhari
  • Al-Amour family home – Al-Fakhari
  • Development Barracks – Ma’an
  • Unidentified airstrike – Khirbet Al-Adas / Rafah
  • Jabr family home – Musbah area / Rafah
  • Massacre at Abu Nasr family home – Beit Lahia

As we find ourselves once again bearing witness, live, to a genocide in Palestine, watching ever worsening atrocities against innocent men, women and children, we are strengthened in our commitment to force the UBC administration to stand on the right side of history. Divest from the Israeli war machine. Educational institutions have absolutely no place funding genocide.

In response to concerns expressed by the community, the hunger strikers would like to share that they are continuing in good health although beginning to tire more easily than usual. One hunger striker has lost 1kg of weight but that’s to be expected from 3 days of not eating. Daily medical check-ins continue and do not suggest any reason for concern. In light of the newest escalation by Israeli, they stand firm in their commitment to hold UBC accountable for it’s investments.

We will not stop. We will not rest. UBC must divest.

Day 2

Hunger Strike Day 2 Palestine update and day 529 of the accelerated genocide in Palestine.

  • 429 Palestinians killed, including over 174 kids as Israel ends the ceasefire
  • Netanyahu said violent attack on Gaza is “only the beginning” & ceasefire talks to happen “under fire”
  • Heavy attacks on north Gaza, bombed nearby specialized Gaza City hospital, killing many
  • Israeli occupation forces targeted a car in Khan Younis, killing 6 family members

In The West Bank

  • Israeli occupation forces shot & killed 25 year old Palestinian, injured 3 others amid Qalqilya raid
  • Israeli Occupation forces abducted 40 Palestinians in overnight raids
  • 57 more bodies recovered from al-Shifa Hospital mass grave, including 40 unidentified; estimated over 160 buried in the area from Israeli attacks
  • Only 2 charity food kitchens in Gaza operating due to 16-day Israeli total aid blockade
  • 3-story building sheltering displaced in Jabalia (north) collapsed from previous IOF attacks

Is this enough to get the UBC administration to act to divest against the war machine that is perpetrating these atrocities? How many more innocent children must we see slaughtered, lived streamed on our phones, before the administration is finally willing to act? We will stand firm in our hunger strike until the administration divests from complacency in the ongoing Palestine genocide.

Day 1

Hunger Strike Day 1 began with students, staff and faculty calling upon UBC to divest from the companies that feed the genocide against Palestine. Israel, after weeks of ceasefire violations, has violated the ceasefire in Gaza. In just 10 hours, Israel massacred over 412 Palestinians, including 130 children. These violent bombings happened across Gaza as people slept. Over 500 are injured and many remain buried under rubble amid strained rescue efforts. Entire families were wiped out.

“Intensity of bombing in western Gaza City was so violent that many people killed were thrown out of their buildings — their flesh was collected from the streets & the yards of other homes.” — Palestinian Journalist Hani Mahmoud

Israel deliberately bombed residential buildings, schools & public facilities that were turned into evacuation centres as most homes were destroyed or IOF-occupied.

Al-Shifa Hospital director: “Every minute, a wounded person dies due to lack of resources”. Gaza’s Health Ministry is asking for urgent blood donations as blood banks have been depleted.

Israel reissued expulsion threats for Beit Hanoun (north) and 3 Khan Younis neighbourhoods (south). Defence Minister Katz gave orders to block medical evacuations from Rafah crossing to Egypt.

In the West Bank

Tulkarem Governorate

  • The Israeli occupation army continued expelling citizens from Qaqoun and Abu al-Foul neighbourhoods in Tulkarem camp today.
  • Women and children attempting to enter Abu al-Foul neighbourhood were shot at and beaten by the occupation army.
  • Significant destruction to infrastructure, homes, and property was caused by the occupation.

Jenin Governorate

  • Israeli occupation tanks launched heavy fire at the al-Awda roundabout in Jenin camp.
  • Additional reinforcements were sent by the occupation army to Jenin city and its camp.

Nablus Governorate:

  • Palestinian Authority (PA) forces arrested Mohammad Bashkar, one of the prisoners freed in the first phase of the exchange, after summoning him for an interview.
  • A Palestinian youth was also detained by the occupation in Beit Furik, east of Nablus.

Hebron Governorate

  • A Palestinian elderly man was injured in the head after being attacked by settlers in Jaber neighbourhood, southern Hebron.
  • Settlers, under the protection of occupation forces, held rallies in Shuhada Street, preventing Palestinians from moving in the area.
  • Settlers, guarded by occupation soldiers, attacked a Palestinian house in Jaber neighbourhood.

Jerusalem Governorate:

  • Journalist Latifa Abdul Latif was arrested by the occupation in Jerusalem and her detention has been extended until tomorrow for a hearing before the occupation’s Magistrate Court.

The UBC administration, by refusing to divest from the Israeli war machine, is complicit in all of the above crimes. It should not take a dangerous form of protest like hunger striking to move the administration to act to divest. What happened in Palestine the day the strike commenced should be enough. But here we are. Hunger Strike Day 1. What will it take for you to act?

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