Pro-Palestine student suspended by King’s College London returns to campus

What the report says

Usama Ghanem, a 22-year-old Egyptian student at King’s College London, has been allowed back on campus after the university lifted a suspension imposed over his involvement in pro-Palestine activism. According to Al Jazeera, the reinstatement means he can complete the final year of his international studies degree. The outlet reported that the suspension had followed a disciplinary case in which the university cited alleged non-academic misconduct, including disrupting an event and creating a health and safety concern.

Ghanem said he believes he was punished for political activism, and he later took legal action while accepting delays to his studies. Al Jazeera reported that the suspension also affected his visa status, though the university said visa decisions are handled by UK authorities, not KCL. Ghanem has said he could face risk if returned to Egypt because of earlier detention there related to activism.

The case comes amid broader criticism of UK universities over their response to Palestine solidarity protests after the start of the war in Gaza. Al Jazeera noted that student groups and campaigners described Ghanem’s return as a victory for protest rights, while KCL said it had upheld the original reasons for the suspension and reinstated him only after meeting agreed conditions. The university denied disciplining students for activism and said it acts when conduct breaches safety or security rules.

The report also said Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates previously found at least 26 KCL students had faced disciplinary investigations tied to pro-Palestine protest activity between October 2023 and November 2025.