In a statement, the activists refer that, in view of this order to demobilize by the management of the Faculty of Sciences, communicated in a meeting with the students, they scheduled a demonstration for this afternoon, in front of the faculty.

In the statement, the activists state that the management of the institution communicated to them that "they will do" what the law allows them to do.

The students have been "meeting and deliberating democratically in assembly" since early this morning, in order to decide what their next steps will be.

The University of Porto and the management of the Faculty of Sciences "remain intransigent in their position" in the face of the students' demands, "thus ensuring the maintenance of relations between the UP and institutions in Israel", they refer.

Regardless of whether or not the occupation continues, the students guarantee that the actions in defense of the Palestinian people will continue.

"We have been fighting for this cause for months in the most varied ways and, while a genocide is taking place in Palestine and our demands are not met, protest actions will take place on our part", guaranteed Joana Bernardes, one of the students present.

The group of activists states that "the academic community - not only students, but also teachers and non-teaching staff - has clearly demonstrated its support for this cause, as well as members of civil society".

The concentration of support for the student movement is scheduled for 5:00 pm, at the FCUP Computer Science department.

This protest had its first moment more than a week ago when about fifty students complained in front of the University of Porto's rectory about the cutting of relations between academia and the State of Israel.

On Thursday, the students continued the protest at the Faculty of Sciences, where they set up camping tents to shelter themselves during the night surrounded by Palestinian flags, candles and banners with phrases such as: "Proletarian solidarity for a Free Palestine", "Israel is not a democracy, Israel is a terrorist country" and "The revolution starts here".

The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which caused about 1,200 deaths and two hundred hostages, according to the Israeli authorities.

In response, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has already caused over 35,000 deaths, mostly civilians, according to local authorities controlled by Hamas, and left the enclave in a situation of serious humanitarian crisis.

Read Also: Middle East. Protest at the Faculty of Sciences at UPorto extends (Portuguese version)