The University of Maryland will allow Students for Justice in Palestine to hold an anti-Israel protest on 7 October, the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks which prompted the ongoing war in the region, the Daily Wire has reported.

The group has reserved 9 acres in the centre of campus for that day, meaning the space will not be available for any demonstrations focused on the civilian lives lost in Israel last year. The gesture is unlikely to win over hearts and minds but, then again, neither did the protest outside a memorial for 7 October victims in New York, or the “long live the intifada” chants at another protest. Perhaps the date is just a coincidence.