Student group at Miami University sets up encampment to protest Israel-Hamas war in Gaza

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comment from the university.

Dozens of students set up an encampment at Miami University following a march Thursday evening to demonstrate solidarity for an end to Israel's war in Gaza.

The march was organized by the Miami University Students for Justice in Palestine and began at the Freedom Summer Memorial on campus. In a statement released that same evening, the group said the purpose of the march was "to demand our university to disclose and divest its funds from the extremist Israeli genocide of Palestinians."

Enquirer media partner Fox 19 reported a group of Jewish students gathered across from the encampment in opposition.

One student, Dominic Dellapina, said he’s seen more support for Palestinians in Gaza than for Israel on campus.

“I wholeheartedly believe in a ceasefire but I don’t believe it should be on Hamas’ terms,” Dellapina said.

These student-organized marches and encampments in protest of the war have been reported at a number of universities across the nation, as well as in Canada. In some occasions, law enforcement and university officials have been reported arresting students, removing encampments and threatening academic consequences.

Similar demonstrations were held this week at other Ohio-based universities, including Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University.

The protest at Miami University remained relatively peaceful as students marched across the Western Campus for nearly two hours. They concluded the march at the University Seal, located right in the heart of campus outside of Roudebush Hall, which was where the encampment was erected.

"Tonight, we will be setting up an encampment at the seal to exercise our right to peacefully protest, demanding the university treat divestment with the proper urgency required when responding to this genocide," the group said in the statement.

A few police vehicles were on the scene of the encampment but as of Thursday evening, there were no reports of any incidents between officers and protesters.

Darek Sanabria Valderrana, vice president of Students for Justice in Palestine, said their goal is to stay in the encampments "for as long as possible."

"Our primary message is to the administration of Miami University. And it's that we need to continue moving forward with the process of divestment and in the most urgent manner possible," Sanabria Valderrana said.

According to Thursday's statement, students from the group met with Miami University President Gregory Crawford to present their demands of complete disclosure and divestment from companies involved in the perpetuation of the war. However, their efforts were mostly unsuccessful as the university said it "cannot obtain an itemized list of companies from the investment group they themselves have contracted."

The university issued a statement late Thursday night in response to the protest:

"The safety of our students is Miami University’s top priority, and that priority will guide university actions in this unfolding situation. Students for Justice for Palestine, a student organization, held a march this evening (May 2), and were joined by the Young Democratic Socialists of America. As with any demonstration, university staff have been present to maintain student safety and ensure that university policy is followed. Unfortunately, participants have chosen not to follow university policy. Those present have been informed that they are currently violating policy and must come into compliance."

Enquirer intern Jack Schmelzinger and Enquirer media partner Fox 19 contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Student group at Miami University latest to protest Israel-Hamas war