Students and community members in Kelowna joined the Pro-Palestine movement unfolding at universities across Canada and the U.S. and have set up an encampment at the UBC Okanagan campus in May 2024.

The group in Kelowna  called UBCO 4 Palestine, gathered at 5 a.m. on May 13 in the UBCO Courtyard and set up tents, tables and signs. The group is calling on the University of British Columbia to divest from Israel香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渙ccupation and genocide香蕉视频直播� of Palestinians and to publicly condemn the ongoing violence.

The protests began after Israel香蕉视频直播檚 response to an attack on civilians by a terrorist organization called Hamas on Oct 7. The assault by Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians in Israel and took more as captives. In response, Israel香蕉视频直播檚 military has killed over 34,500 Palestinians living in Gaza.

Members of UBCO 4 Palestine requested to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions from the public, the university and law enforcement. The group includes students, members of the public, and people from diverse backgrounds including people of Jewish heritage, Palestinian descent, immigrants, international students and Indigenous people. 

On May 16, UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon issued an  saying 香蕉视频直播淲e hope for a ceasefire and a lasting peaceful resolution in the Middle East.香蕉视频直播� He furthered the statement by explaining that to remain respectful of the broad range of opinions held by students and faculty of the university, the academic institution must remain neutral.

Bacon also said that the UBC Endowment Fund does not directly own any stocks in the companies identified by  However, he said a small percentage of university funds managed by external investment managers have been invested in companies that were named as being 香蕉视频直播渃omplicit in Israel香蕉视频直播檚 numerous violations of Palestinian human right,香蕉视频直播� by the People香蕉视频直播檚 University for Gaza.

After 46 days of protest, the encampment at UBC Okanagan concluded.