Pro-Palestinian hunger strike ends at McGill University

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Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have ended their hunger strike after 76 days, having failed to persuade the university to cut ties with Israeli-linked institutions.

The group, dubbed the McGill Hunger Strikers, began their strike in February, relying on nutritional broth to demand that the university sever ties with Israel-linked companies and universities amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

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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’s downtown campus, 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 group stated. “The end of our hunger strike is, however, not a defeat.”

McGill University welcomed the end of the strike in a statement on Wednesday but did not comment on the negotiations between the university and protesters.

“We are relieved that the hunger strike has ended. We recognize that people feel profound anguish and anger at the tremendous loss of innocent lives and that has spurred different forms of activism,” the statement said.

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“McGill continues to encourage our students and other members of the community to prioritize engagement that doesn’t compromise anyone’s health and safety, including their own.”

In their post, the protesters accused the administration of not caring about its students after they met with the administration.

The strike started with two ‘indefinite’ strikers, Bogdan Stilmashenko and Rania Amine, and about half a dozen ‘relay’ strikers who fasted for short periods. Stilmashenko said in an interview with Radio-Canada that they were ready to die for the cause.

According to the group’s Instagram, Amine ended her strike after being hospitalized, while the group stopped posting updates about Stilmashenko. Two more protesters identified only by their first names, Chadi and Saturn, began ‘indefinite’ strikes but also ended them after being hospitalized.

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.

The halt of the strike comes after a wave of disruption at McGill University, including vandalism on university property and protesters targeting university administrators at their homes.

Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian encampment remains. After a Quebec judge rejected McGill’s request for an injunction to dismantle the camp, the university is now seeking a new injunction to remove the encampment, which is expected to be heard in late July.

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