A well-known Oxford journalist has defended his renewed concern over a lawn where pro-Palestine protesters were based saying allegations he cares for it more than human lives are "tripe, marinated in bilge".

The conservative writer Peter Hitchens insists people attacking him for his remarks on the protesters outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in recent weeks have "missed his point" as he has "condemned the bombardment of Gaza since it began".

Mr Hitchens was criticised for multiple comments on the protests including a public social media post which stated: "Ruined turf and mess where Gaza protesters once camped in Oxford.

"Altruism, as usual, only applies to causes thousands of miles away."

The lawn post-protest.The lawn post-protest. (Image: Peter Hitchens.)

Protesters from the Oxford Action for Palestine (OxPal) 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".

The demands.The demands. (Image: Lucy Williams)

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This comes amid an ongoing bombardment of Palestinians which has killed more than 35,000 people, following Hamas attacks on Israel that killed approximately 1,139 people in the context of an ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

Camp remains.Camp remains. (Image: Peter Hitchens.)

Now, Mr Hitchens, a "radical Marxist-Leninist" in his youth, has responded to some of the backlash he has received such as people saying "grass grows back. Dead Palestinian civilians murdered by Israel don't".

Protesters have now set up camp at the Radcliffe Camera.Protesters have now set up camp at the Radcliffe Camera. (Image: Oxford Action for Palestine)

Speaking to us, Mr Hitchens said: "I suppose the grass will grow back once the trash has been carted away, but not without a great deal of effort by gardeners.

Peter Hitchens in Oxford.Peter Hitchens in Oxford. (Image: Newsquest.)

"The lawn had just been returfed when it was occupied, and so was soft and moist at the time, the worst possible moment for it to be trampled by hundreds of feet and camped on.

"The mangling of the lawn in front of the museum was a selfish, needless action, wrecking a public amenity, for months to come, for no good reason.

'Divest from death'.'Divest from death'. (Image: Lucy Williams)

"Demonstrators can make their point without doing things like this."

Students have now left the lawn opposite the Museum of Natural History and continued camping on the Radcliffe Camera lawn - but the group says it has not "ended its advocacy" and the former museum campsite is "currently being transformed into a community garden".

Garden for Gaza.Garden for Gaza. (Image: Peter Hitchens.)

An OxPal representative added: "Israel has massacred nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with hundreds of thousands more missing under the rubble, injured, or facing starvation.

"Oxford, along with most universities in the world, continues to bankroll this genocide. We are focused solely on ending that unacceptable reality."

Gaza.Gaza.

The lawn in question is owned by the University of Oxford who we have contacted for comment.

Mr Hitchens drew parallels to previous damage caused by fireworks at South Park in November but insisted nobody had said "what about all the money raised for laudable charities" at the time.

Damage to Oxford South Park.Damage to Oxford South Park. (Image: Photo: Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones)

He added: "If the Gaza protestors are so virtuous, they should show more consideration for others, especially for those who will now have to clear up the mess they made. 

"Everyone on Twitter who has attacked me for saying this has (probably deliberately) missed my point.

The camp before it packed up.The camp before it packed up. (Image: Lucy Williams)

"They have posted pictures of the devastation in Gaza, falsely implying that I care more for a lawn than for lost human lives.

"This is tripe, marinated in bilge.

"I have publicly and clearly condemned the bombardment of Gaza since it began (and also condemned previous similar actions).

"Real virtue is expressed in small things, close to home, involving actual effort, such as clearing up after yourself."