Evicted pro-Palestinian camp relocates to park

In July, the University of Sheffield obtained legal powers to remove the camp set up by the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP) outside the students' union.

In a bid to continue their protest, activists arrived at Weston Park on Monday to raise awareness about what they say is "the university's complicity in the Israel-Gaza war" due to links with arms firms.

Sheffield City Council, which looks after the park, said it was aware of the encampment and would monitor activity over the coming days.

The University of Sheffield declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

The first encampment set up by the SCCP on 1 May was ordered to leave following a court judgment in July.

During the hearing, the university said protesters did not have permission for the camp and had "ignored" health and safety concerns.

According to the SCCP, the encampment had been a "place of inspiration, growth, love and safety" for those "heartbroken" by the Israel-Gaza war which followed the Hamas attack on Israel last October.

The attack killed about 1,200 people and more than 250 others were taken as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 41,000 people, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

Activists arrived at the site on Monday, saying they would be there all week

The SCCP said it hoped the new camp would prompt the university to "sever its ties with arms manufacturers" and "to boycott Israeli companies and institutions".

One member of the encampment said: “It's evident that the University of Sheffield believes that their eviction of our 93-day encampment marked the end of our demands.

"SCCP's steadfast statement is that we are just beginning and that we will not be silenced."

The camp, which consists of several tents and gazebos, would remain at the park until the end of the month, the group said, with educational events held throughout the week.

Sheffield City Council's Kurtis Crossland, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee, said: “We are aware of the encampment that has been set up in Weston Park and along with our partners at South Yorkshire Police will be monitoring protests and activity, which are currently peaceful, over the coming days.”

-BBC