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Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have ended their hunger strike after collectively protesting for 76 days.
The group, dubbed the McGill Hunger Strikers, began their strike in February, relying on nutritional broth to demand that the university sever ties with companies and investments linked to Israel.
The group also demands the university end its academic partnerships with universities in Israel.
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Initially, the group provided daily updates on the condition of the hunger strikers on Instagram, amassing around 5,000 followers and drawing international media attention. However, these updates ceased in the past month.
In a statement on social media on Tuesday, the protesters announced they had ended the strike on May 6, 10 days after a pro-Palestinian encampment formed on the university downtown, demanding the same divestment of ties to Israel.
The group cited medical advice and severe health concerns for ending the strike.
“While determined to achieve our goals, the sacrifices made by our hunger strikers surpass what they should have to bear for us to be heard. The end of our hunger strike is, however, not a defeat,” they stated.
The hunger strike involved multiple participants, each taking turns fasting for various lengths of time, which collectively totalled 76 days.
Social media posts indicated that three students were hospitalized during the strike.
During the protest, McGill stated that they respect the right of free speech and assembly. The university also previously stated that they would not cut ties with an educational institution based on its geography, while there are channels for expressing opinions about the university’s investment holdings.
McGill has yet to comment about the end of the strike.
In their post, the protesters accused the administration of not caring about its students after they said they met with the administration.
Now, the protesters are calling for escalation.
“Escalate for Rafah means escalate for Rafah. It is not just a saying but an action. Organize. Mobilize. Disrupt. Restrategize. Be creative. Take care of each other,” they urged.
This story will be updated
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