By Holly Hales and Rachael Ward in Melbourne

Pro-Palestine protesters are ignoring demands to remove university encampments, with 150 classes cancelled at one campus and claims another institution threatened students with expulsion.

Camps have been set up at five universities in Victoria, one in every other state and the ACT.

The University of Melbourne has insisted protesters leave its Parkville campus after more than 100 students spent a night in the Arts West building in tents along with unfurled banners and flags.

The group have dubbed the building ‘Mahmoud Hall’ in honour of Mahmoud Alnaouq, a young Palestinian man killed in the Israel-Gaza war who was meant to start his studies at the university.

The university is concerned the action poses an “unacceptable risk” to safety and security, with more than 5000 students impacted by 150 cancelled classes over two days.

Those who refuse to move on have been warned they could be referred to police or face disciplinary action, with the university citing escalating action including damage to university property and “disruptive intent”.

Some students and tutors were frustrated when they found the building inaccessible.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she had travelled almost an hour to campus before being told her class was cancelled.

Students at Deakin University in Burwood are also resisting repeated calls to disband their encampment.

Chancellor Professor Iain Martin hit out at “unacceptable language and behaviour” from some protesters, including some people not believed to be students.

In a letter to staff and students, he said the university has not asked protesters to stop all action but to instead remove the encampment as it compromised a right to work and learn “free of impediment, intimidation, threat and harassment”.

Student organiser Jasmine Duff told AAP there are no plans to leave the site and said an emergency rally will be called if police or security move in.

At Monash University, student protesters claim nine organisers are accused of misconduct and threatened with suspension or expulsion.

The students say the misconduct allegations relate to non-violently defending the pro-Palestine encampment against pro-Israel activists.

Monash University said it is investigating complaints about students’ misconduct and issued a number of formal notices.

Encampment organiser Josiah Downey said the group has no plans to alter their protest demands.

Australian National University in Canberra has also told students to vacate the camp after it met organisers on Wednesday but the camp remains.

Victorian health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said universities have the power to decide their response to the encampments.

“Being able to protest on campus is absolutely a fundamental right but again, when it impinges on the rights of others, that is when we have concerns,” she said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said it was up to universities to request police action, if necessary.

Many of this week’s demonstrations marked the 76th anniversary of The Nakba, the mass displacement and dispossession of millions of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and the creation of the state of Israel.

Student encampments, with demands for universities to cut ties with Israel and associated weapons manufacturers, popped up at campuses across Australia in recent weeks following similar protests in the United States.

PRO-PALESTINE ENCAMPMENTS AT AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES: