The Blavatnik School of Government was vandalised in the early hours of Friday morning by Palestine Action. Glass smashed in the windows and doors of the building. Some of the damaged glass was sprayed with what appears to be red paint.
The Blavatnik told Cherwell: “The vandalism will not impact the opening and operations of the Blavatnik School. We remain open for students and staff through the back entrance.”
The Blavatnik has been a target of pro-Palestinian protest before, with Oxford Action For Palestine (OA4P), protesting outside the building as former Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, spoke inside.
Palestine Action has vandalised University buildings in a similar way before, smashing the glass of the doors of the University’s Wellington Square offices and spraying them with red paint, in October of last year.
In an Instagram post, Palestine Action said: “Oxford university targeted again over ties to genocide, including investments in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer.
“Last night’s targeting of the Blavatnik School of Government sends a clear message to the board of governors: End your complicity or expect direct action.
“Rishi Sunak is due to take up his new position on Blavatnik’s board soon. Under his direction, Britain participated in the genocide of Palestinians.”
A University spokesperson added to Cherwell: “The University is working with the Police to identify those responsible.”
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police told Cherwell that they had “received reports of criminal damage” but that “no arrests have been made at this time [and] an investigation is ongoing”.
Whilst OA4P claimed they were not involved in the action, they posted a statement on Instagram in “solidarity” with the action. A spokesperson told Cherwell that “OA4P was not involved in but stands in solidarity with actions calling out Oxford University’s complicity in Israeli genocide, apartheid, and occupation”.
