UTMSU holds Palestine Week, urges U of T to end partnership with Hebrew University
An exhibit, rally, and panel discussion focused on Palestinian education and the Drop Hebrew University of Jerusalem campaign.

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The UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) held a Palestine Week from Monday, October 5, to Friday, October 9 with an exhibit, rally, and panel discussion that called on U of T to end its academic partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). The union said its Palestine Committee developed the week’s programming to emphasize education and give students ways to participate in advocacy campaigns.

In written responses to The Medium, the UTMSU said this year’s programming focused on the role of academic institutions in ongoing violence against Palestinians and on campaigns calling for U of T to end its academic ties with Israeli institutions. The union said it aimed to help students understand the partnership and find ways to take part in advocacy.

The union’s Palestine Committee organized an exhibit featuring information about Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian culture. According to the UTMSU, it included information about Palestinian political prisoners, including people held in Israeli prisons without charge. It also featured displays of traditional Palestinian art and thobes (traditional Palestinian embroidered dresses). 

UTMSU said the exhibit also focused on understanding the disruption of education in Gaza, with displays on the destruction of educational institutions and the conditions in which Palestinian students have tried to continue their studies.

The union linked the display to its use of the term “academic genocide.” The UTMSU explained it draws attention to the destruction of educational opportunities in Gaza and to U of T’s academic partnerships.

In June 2025, a United Nations investigative commission reported that Israeli attacks had damaged or destroyed more than 90 per cent of school and university buildings in Gaza. The commission said the destruction could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Photo provided by @myutmsu

The UTMSU’s Tuesday, October 6 rally focused on U of T’s partnership with HUJI. The union said it encouraged students who stayed for the event to discuss Palestine, build relationships, and connect with others involved in campus advocacy.

The union also said the university called Peel Regional Police in response to Palestine-related action during the week. The union said its organizers and marshals worked to keep students safe and away from campus and regional police.

The week’s main events came to a close on Wednesday, October 7, with a panel discussion focused on the Drop HUJI campaign and U of T’s partnership with the Jerusalem-based university.

UTMSU President Adam El-Falou said that the union’s motive is “understanding where the universities’ priorities are” and “to shed light on the reality of students who are in Gaza, who have no more schools, no more universities and no more academia.”

The campaign calls for U of T to end its academic ties with HUJI. The two universities’ research and innovation alliance, announced in July 2020, supports collaborative research projects between the two institutions.

UTMSU said that HUJI’s relationship with Israeli military institutions raises concerns about the university’s academic partnerships. The union also called on U of T to prioritize student education and investment in their futures ahead of its partnership with HUJI.

UTMSU said the panel drew a full room of students who wanted to learn about the campaign and connect with Palestinian advocacy groups on campus.

The union reported receiving positive feedback from students and said visitors spent time reading the information displayed in the exhibit throughout the week.

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