Pro-Palestinian protesters at encampment demand UW cut ties with Israel, Boeing

SEATTLE — The pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Washington (UW) campus is now on its fifth day, with dozens of tents set up in the Quad.

Though there have been some confrontations at the encampment, which started on Monday, there have been no major incidents with any injuries or arrests.

Dozens of tents remain on campus, and KOMO News crews saw some more people setting up tents Friday. The group remains steadfast in their plan to stay out here until the university meets their demands. Protesters say they want to see an end to the repression of pro-Palestinian voices.

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“I think just seeing the scale of damage and death and destruction that has been committed by Israel in Gaza has been extremely heartbreaking,” one protester, who preferred not to share their name, said.

The group also wants the university to divest from Israel, including cutting study abroad programs there and cutting all ties with Boeing.

Boeing has been building weapons that are used by Israel in committing genocide against Palestinians,” one protester said. “UW funneling students towards this company has meant that many students who go to this school are put into jobs that are complacent in genocide.

Among the protestors, there were also some holding signs voicing Jewish support for the cause.

RELATED:Protestors set up encampment on University of Washington campus

“As a Jewish person, I think it’s vital to show solidarity and show up for the movement for a free Palestine,” one protester, who also preferred not to share their name, said. “I think it’s important to deconstruct the narrative that anti-Zionism is a very different thing than antisemitism.”

Though the group has said they invite anyone to come learn and engage, not everyone feels welcome here.

I walked through the encampment yesterday, I tucked away my Jewish star,” Olivia Feldman, president of Students Supporting Israel at UW, said. “It’s definitely divisive, but it has yet to become violent, I know students have been assaulted, they’ve had their flags taken away, we’ve seen flags cut up, I was followed yesterday while walking around the Quad.

University officials have repeatedly said they will continue to closely monitor the encampment, saying “we will maintain our approach of a flexible, measured and appropriate response that addresses the circumstances of each situation.”

The university also said alerts will be sent out through the UW Alert System as needed, but Jewish students on campus say they are disappointed in the university’s approach so far.

“The rise in hate and violence and anger is not something we want to see on our campus, and I think a lot of us feel like the administration allowing this to go on is saying, we’re welcoming this anger, hatred, anti-Semitism on campus because we’re not going to actively do anything to stop it,” Feldman said.