The theft took place on Monday, 10 March, around midnight. There is no trace of the two men and one woman who can be seen on CCTV footage. The rector strongly condemns this act of vandalism.
The olive tree was part of the agreements that last year ended the months-long occupation of a VUB space (STOA) by pro-Palestinian students and staff members. "The agreements we made at the time as VUB with Encampment VUB and the VUB Palestine Solidarity Network will continue to be upheld. A new olive tree will be planted as soon as possible," says Jan Danckaert.
The text by the tree remains unchanged. It is a line of verse in which Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (1941–2008) expresses the Palestinian longing for peace and justice: "If the olive tree knew the one who planted it, its oil would become tears."