Local 514 spent every day reporting from McGill’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment during its first week of establishment, uncovering what campers are asking for and if there is merit in McGill University's allegations against the encampment.

Much of the critique we heard from campers is that mainstream media isn’t focusing on why these encampments have been set up and are instead focusing on allegations made against the encampment. In the early days of the encampment, McGill said anti-semitism was occurring. However, Jewish students who are themselves campers at this encampment say that there are no cases of antisemitism occurring at this encampment and that the encampment has an anti-racist policy, which includes a stance against antisemitism, islamophobia and any form of racism.

Some counter-protesters who visited the encampment in the first week have said that these campers are calling for a global intifada, which promotes the genocide of Jewish people. Activists and multiple groups reaffirm that this is not the meaning of intifada, which instead refers to an uprising against an oppressor – translating from "shake off" or "dust off" in Arabic.

Students are at this encampment asking for McGill to disclose all of their ties to Israel, divest from Israeli companies and impose an academic boycott against Israeli institutions. McGill invests at least $7 million in companies that manufacture arms and technology for the Israeli military.

In this report, we address McGill’s allegations, explain what intifada means and show you that it’s not just McGill and Concordia students part of the encampment.

This report was published on other platforms before Israel began its raid on Rafah. Footage of the national encampments courtesy of @omaronig & @masked4palestine on Instagram and @dbtindall on X.