Girton JCR has published an open letter calling on both the College and the University to “denounce Israel’s genocide in Gaza” and cut all ties with implicated actors.

The letter was proposed by the Girton Palestine Activism Group and published after a successful referendum on 12 December.

A total of 89 students participated in the referendum, of which 71 voted in favour, 15 voted against, and three abstained. The turnout was around 20% of eligible voters.

A spokesperson for Girton JCR said: “We recognise that low turnout is a concern, but sadly this is a longstanding and systemic issue in student elections. We did not feel this alone was sufficient to invalidate the process, particularly given the clarity of the outcome.

“We are very proud of the statement, which involved a great deal of thought and care, and we hope readers will take the time to engage with it and with the steps that follow,” they continued.

The open letter begins by condemning “Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its illegal occupation of Palestine,” before expressing “unwavering support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people”.

It also said: “We mourn the loss of life and the violence incurred by all civilians, whether Palestinian, Israeli or otherwise”.

The authors call on Girton and “particularly the University” to review their direct and indirect investments, as well as their institutional ties with “actors implicated in Israeli apartheid and genocide”. The letter also asks that the JCRs and MCRs of other colleges speak up about Palestine.

The authors clarify that they are not questioning “the continued existence of Israel” and that they condemn “discrimination of all kinds, including against Jewish people”.

Regarding Girton specifically, the letter acknowledges the College’s “historical position in the pursuit of social justice” and warns that “such a legacy risks becoming ornamental” if it does not act.

The letter makes a further criticism of Girton for banking with Barclays, arguing that the bank “not only has strong links to Israeli violence against Palestinians, but also contradicts Girton’s environmental and anti-weapons policy”.

Barclays emphasises that it does not directly invest in arms companies, but instead “provides a range of financial products and services to UK, US and European defence companies that supply NATO and its allies”.

The JCR is yet to receive a formal response from the College. However, they note that the letter was written “in close communication with the College and with support from several fellows”.

A JCR spokesperson continued: “The senior College administration is aware of the statement, and the Girton Palestine Activism Group, which initially proposed it, is also in ongoing and constructive conversation with them.”

In the upcoming Lent term, a working group of JCR members, JCR committee members, and representatives from the Girton Palestine Activism Group is set to draft a list of concrete proposals for the College to consider. Girton MCR is also planning a vote on whether to support the open letter.

Girton is not the first college whose JCR has expressed solidarity with Palestine. Other undergraduate student unions that have issued statements include those at Queens’, Trinity, Clare, and Selwyn.

Meanwhile, Cambridge SU published a statement in October calling for the University to fully divest from arms companies. In their open letter, they argued that arms manufacturers have facilitated “occupation, war crimes and genocide in Gaza as well as in Yemen and Congo”.

A vote on the extent to which Cambridge will divest from arms has been delayed until February.

Girton College and the University of Cambridge were contacted for comment.