An agreement was reached after a meeting between protesters and the administration at the McGill camp

Palestinian protesters camped out at Montreal's McGill University say they are not close to taking down their tents after meeting with members of the school's administration.

Camp representatives held a press conference after the meeting and said the university had not offered a specific timeline or process for meeting their demands.

The protesters are demanding that the university divest from companies it says are “involved in Israel's occupation of Palestine” and sever ties with Israeli institutions.

On April 27, after a wave of similar protests on campuses across the United States, protesters surrounded an area of ​​McGill's lower campus with dozens of tents.

A tent with free items is seen at a pro-Palestinian camp on the campus of McGill University, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiortz

The protesters plan to maintain and expand their encampment until their demands are met, according to spokesmen who identified themselves as members of McGill Palestine Solidarity for Human Rights and McGill Independent Jewish Voices.

McGill did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said Sunday that it would continue to work “carefully and faithfully” with all stakeholders.

Last week, McGill President Deep Saini offered to “hold a forum with members of the McGill community” to discuss their demands, but only if they took down the tents.

Representatives of SPHR McGill and Independent Jewish Voices, who declined to be identified, saying they fear harassment or harassment from the university, said Monday's meeting came after the students presented a list of specific demands.

“This press conference followed a meeting with McGill administrators where they promised to give the coalition a clear proposal, but they failed to come back with a clear process and a clear timeline,” said a self-described SPHR McGill member. As a Palestinian student.

The student said the protesters were “steady and determined to support and expand this camp until our demands are met” and said they were open to continued dialogue with the school.

The pro-Palestinian camp is seen on Monday, May 6, 2024. (CTV News)

Camp members were joined at the press conference by members of Mohawk Mothers from the Kahnawak Mohawk Region, as well as supporting faculty.

Daniel Schwartz, assistant professor of Russian and German cinema at McGill, said a growing number of professors oppose Israel's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

“As McGill professors, we strongly oppose the university administration's relentless campaign against students working to end the genocide in Palestine and stand for justice by ending the occupation,” he said.

The press conference was held shortly after Hamas announced that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal by Egypt and Qatar. But the protesting students at the camp said the press conference had nothing to do with it, saying their demands were not for a ceasefire, but for abandonment.

This Canadian Press report was first published on May 6, 2024.