Radical activists disrupted a talk by Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, at the Cambridge Union on Wednesday. The activists accused Thiel of facilitating “genocide” by working with the Israeli military. Three pro-Palestinian activists interrupted the talk, leading to Thiel being trapped inside the building as they blocked the entrance and prevented him from leaving. The disruptive actions were claimed by the leftist group Youth Demand, who criticized Thiel for his involvement with Israel. Thiel eventually left the building, taunting the activists as he did so.
The incident is part of a larger protest movement at prestigious English universities, including Cambridge and Oxford, against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Students are demanding transparency regarding any ties with organizations supporting Israel, divestment from such groups, and reinvestment in Palestinian academics and scholars. The protests have also spread to other universities internationally, with calls to dismantle the Israeli state.
Meanwhile, a National Union of Students (NUS) conference in Blackpool saw delegates vote to expel the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) over their support for Israel. However, the NUS later issued an apology, stating that the vote was outside their guidelines. Former universities minister Robert Halfon expressed concern over the treatment of UJS, questioning whether the NUS is institutionally antisemitic. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on university campuses.
