A conservative journalist who was shunned from 'liberation' camps in Oxford has said he is "actually deeply opposed to the bombardment of Gaza," but dislikes "the mess" the protest has made of the lawn. 

Peter Hitchens, who lives in Oxford and is a columnist for the Mail on Sunday, saw himself caught up in confrontation with a group of young people yesterday evening (Tuesday, May 7) who had pitched tents on grass opposite the Pitt Rivers Museum on South Parks Road.

Members of the Oxford Action for Palestine group are putting up a fight to get the university to meet their demands which include ceasing financial support for Israel, and supporting Palestinian-led rebuilding of education in Gaza.

This is Oxfordshire: A protester confronts Mr Hitchens.A protester confronts Mr Hitchens. (Image: Peter Hitchens.)

READ MORE: Oxford University students camp out for Palestine protest

This comes amid a bombardment of Gaza which has seen more than 35,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The bombing follows a Hamas-launched attack which killed around 1,139 people, the majority being civilians, and saw about 250 people taken hostage.

Hamas' attack came in the context of an ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories after thousands were expelled from their homes in the 20th century.

Mr Hitchens said he had spent some time talking to protesters "quite amicably" after which the press officer "announced that she didn't speak to that newspaper or its sister".

We spoke to the journalist to hear his account of events and ask some specific questions around his stance on the issue.

The socialist-turned Burkean conservative said: "I attempted to challenge this (the press officer) but she just repeated the prohibition.

"So I then went on to the lawn, stepping round someone who tried to tell me that I was not allowed there.

This is Oxfordshire: The protesters have set up camp.The protesters have set up camp. (Image: Lucy Williams)

"I explained that she had no power to tell me where I could walk in my home city, where I have lived for more than 60 years. 

"She called out for aid and a group of protestors formed a human barricade to prevent me from going any further.

"None would talk to me, but they all shouted slogans at me for about 20 minutes, while I grinned at them."

When asked what incentive the protesters would have to talk to him given the Daily Mail and its sister paper's historic reputation in coverage of the topic, Mr Hitchens said: "I think it is silly to refuse to talk to newspapers because you disagree with or dislike what they say about you.

"In a plural society some media will not be on your side, whoever you are. 

"If you want to get your case across, your critics and opponents are the people you most need to talk to, so you should talk to the media they are most likely to read.

"I talk to left-wing newspapers which attack me, and have always done so.

This is Oxfordshire: Peter Hitchens outside an Oxford pub.Peter Hitchens outside an Oxford pub. (Image: Matthew Norman)

"I am actually deeply opposed to the bombardment of Gaza and have been from the start, as they would have learned if they had spoken to me."

The political dissident (who is apparently unkeen on the designation) added: "The main thing I dislike about this protest is the mess it has made of a lawn I am rather fond of, which had just re-emerged after years locked away inside a building site.

"It grieves me to see it made into such a mess and I wish they had camped somewhere else.

"Otherwise, I am all in favour of lawful non-violent protest. As I have said, I oppose in principle the bombing or bombardment of populated cities.

This is Oxfordshire: The tents.The tents. (Image: Lucy Williams)

"I protested against the Vietnam War 60 years ago largely because of the callous bombing of the Vietnamese by the USA. I still think I was right to do so.

"But I now think that I, and many of my contemporaries, were wrong to be so uncritical of the North Vietnamese regime, a cruel and intolerant despotism.

"We waved North Vietnamese flags and chanted 'Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh!'

"I wish I had not done this. Opposing brutal methods of war is one thing. Supporting or condoning unpleasant governments or movements is another."

We also asked Mr Hitchens a tangential question about whether the Right's concern with 'anti-Semitism' was hypocritical given their proclaimed commitment to free speech which entailed reluctance to call things 'Islamophobic' or similar designations.

He said: "I oppose anti-Semitism as I oppose all racial bigotry, the other thing the left were right about in the 1960s.

This is Oxfordshire: List of protester demands.List of protester demands. (Image: Lucy Williams)

"I cannot see how this can be hypocritical. I belong to no party or faction, and hold my own views formed from Christian belief, experience, reading and thought. I find myself, on this issue, agreeing with some people who are normally opposed to my view, and disagreeing with some people with whom I would normally expect to agree.

"If this were not so, I would have a closed mind."

We approached a member of the Oxford Palestine Liberation group who was present at the time for comment and she said: "All you need to do is google our encampment to see we have had an abundance of press – so any claims that we are somehow being secretive are unfounded.

"This particular individual was a threat to the people in the space."

When asked how Mr Hitchens may have been a threat, the OxPal representative said: "We have no intent to speak to someone who has come to write a negative article and click-bait journalism."

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Mr Hitchens wrote a column asking "Why is Israel the only country in the world that is blamed for being attacked?"

This is Oxfordshire: 'Divest from death'.'Divest from death'. (Image: Lucy Williams)

Though, he was outspoken in his opposition of 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and has also spoken out about the "anti-Russian prejudice of so many Western people". 

The lawn opposite the museum is owned by the University of Oxford.

A university spokesman said: "We respect our students and staff members' right to freedom of expression in the form of peaceful protests.

"We ask everyone who is taking part to do so with respect, courtesy and empathy.

"Oxford University’s primary focus is the health and safety of the University community, and to ensure any impact on work, research and learning, including student exams, is minimised.

"The Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum remain open.”