King’s College London reinstates suspended pro-Palestine student
Usama Ghanem can return to complete his final year after King’s College London lifted his suspension, while maintaining its original disciplinary findings.
King’s College London has lifted the suspension of Egyptian student Usama Ghanem, allowing him to return and complete the final year of his international studies degree.
The suspension was lifted late last month after Ghanem met conditions agreed with the university. KCL said it had upheld the original reasons for the suspension but determined that re-enrolment was the appropriate outcome.
A 2025 disciplinary letter cited allegations including intimidation, disruption of an event, procedural breaches and a health and safety concern. The university denies disciplining Ghanem for pro-Palestine activism, saying it acts when behaviour breaches safeguarding and security rules or puts others at risk.
The suspension delayed Ghanem’s studies and affected his visa status. KCL said visa sponsorship decisions are made by UK Visas and Immigration, but that the university has a legal duty to report changes in a student’s status.
Student groups Cage and the Association of Student Activism for Palestine welcomed the reinstatement. Their response came amid wider scrutiny of university handling of Palestine solidarity protests.
Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates reported in July that at least 26 KCL students faced disciplinary investigations linked to pro-Palestine protest activity between October 2023 and November 2025. KCL also said it uses Horus to monitor publicly available information about events near its campuses, while denying that it specifically monitored Ghanem.
