A third Irish student encampment in support of Palestine has been established at University College Cork (UCC).

Up to 40 students of the college have installed tents in the campus’ main quad, joining a wave of protest action from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin (UCD).

The protestors are demanding that the university cut ties with all companies and institutions connected to Israel.

Last week university president John O’Halloran issued a statement saying that UCC had identified just one college fund which had "a very small exposure with an Israeli financial institution", and that it was already engaged in a process of divesting from the investment.

However, yesterday evening, the college’s BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) group called the UCC statement "weak and uninvolved".

POWER TO THE STUDENTS!

We're delighted to learn that on the eve of Nakba Day, UCC BDS group has started an encampment on The Quad. Here is their open letter to John Halloran, UCC President and list of demands.

WELL DONE! We stand with you and support you to the hilt. ✊ pic.twitter.com/pv8TjLcoXA

— Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@CampaignCork) May 14, 2024

"We acknowledge that UCC in its reply to the UCCSU letter agreed in principle to some ethical conduct, but there is no evidence of actionable uptake from these", they said in a statement addressed to the college president.

"There is simply no more time to prevaricate on the nature of this crisis, or to simply release statements. We must immediately end Ireland’s complicity in the normalisation and realisation of the ongoing genocide."

The BDS groups has forwarded a detailed list of demands to the UCC president, including the release of more information on ties between the college and Israeli entities or companies.

They also called for UCC to state its support of the right of all Palestinians to return to their homeland and that "all those within the Israeli State perpetrating genocide face trial", among a range of actions and positions.

The protestors say that the encampment will stay put until progress is made towards achieving their demands.