''Every day we stay here is a win": Nine days in the Gaza protest camp at the University of Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

As it enters its second week, those living in the Gaza protest camp at the University of Manchester say 'every day we stay here is a win.' Students began erecting tents at Brunswick Park, on the university's Oxford Road campus, last Thursday.

Since then their numbers are said to have swelled from a few dozen into the hundreds, with the Manchester Evening News counting 80 tents during a visit after the first week.

University bosses have said they 'fully recognise the right of staff and students to protest within the law.' However, they have said the camp 'raises potential health and safety concerns, risks disruption to staff, students and our wider community' and is 'ultimately an 'unauthorised and unlawful use' of the University's campus.' Some Jewish students have also said it has left them feeling 'intimidated.' READ MORE: 'I skip meals so my boy can play football': The thousands of people across Greater Manchester 'living in the red' Two occupants of the camp have now spoken out, and say there is an 'amazing' and 'determined' atmosphere in the camp although they claim there have been attempts to intimidate them and say there is a lingering fear of disciplinary action from the university.

It follows a number of encampments protesting about the conflict at campuses across the US. Umer, 20, who didn't want to give his surname but who has been at the Manchester camp since last Thursday, said: "After seeing them in the US I feel like everyone was eventually expecting the encampments to start here. "I feel like Manchester was one of, if not the first, to start in the UK.