Pro-Palestine protesters have attempted to disrupt an Oxford University ceremony in which honorary degrees were awarded to distinguished individuals, including business leaders. 

Oxford Action for Palestine and supporters brandished banners protesting the "Encaenia" ceremony on Wednesday morning, June 19, in which the current CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, and a former CEO of Rolls-Royce Holdings, Warren East, were set to be recognised. 

An OA4P spokesperson said both Rolls-Royce and Google DeepMind were listed on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) list of companies "complicit in Israeli genocide, occupation, and apartheid". 

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BDS produces a list of Israeli companies or those aligned with the state, for pro-Palestine supporters to boycott. 

An Oxford University spokesperson said there was no disruption to today’s event and the celebration went ahead "entirely as planned".

The annual ceremonial procession moved directly past the Gaza solidarity encampment based in Radcliffe Square.  

Protesters held signs including: "Google Cloud rains blood", "Rolls Royce kills kids", "Rhodes must fall" and "Oxford Uni endorses murder". 

One banner read "there is no safe place in Rafah" while another said Israel had killed 261 teachers, 95 professors, 5479 students and three university presidents.  

Tents have mostly cleared from outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History where OA4P set up its first encampment on May 6. 

Students and other supporters remain outside the Radcliffe Camera. 

A Rolls-Royce spokesperson said: “Rolls-Royce supports the UK Government and its allies in providing power solutions for defence purposes. In doing so, we abide by all applicable export control and sanctions laws.

"In the UK, those regulations demand that exports are considered against a range of criteria, including relevant international law.”

Google DeepMind was contacted for comment.