Pro-Palestinian student protests gain momentum across Europe

Pro-Palestinian Protests Spread Across Europe, Sparking Debate on Academic Ties with Israel

AMSTERDAM — Campus protests by pro-Palestinian activists spread across Europe on Tuesday as some called for a break in academic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza, while schools increasingly faced the question under debate in the U.S.: Allow or intervene?

In Germany, police broke up a protest by several hundred pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a courtyard at Berlin’s Free University. Protesters also occupied a university building in Amsterdam, where police detained 169 people, with two remaining in custody on suspicion of committing public violence.

The protests have not been limited to Germany and the Netherlands. In recent days, students have held protests or set up encampments in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France, and Britain, with some calling for academic institutions to sever ties with Israel.

In Berlin, protesters set up about 20 tents and formed a human chain around them, shouting slogans such as “Viva, viva Palestina.” The protests were made up of students from various Berlin universities and other individuals.

The situation turned tense as scuffles erupted between police and protesters, leading to some individuals being carried away and pepper spray being used. The university’s administrators stated that they had called the police after protesters rejected dialogue and attempted to occupy lecture halls.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, police broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration camp at the University of Amsterdam, citing the need to restore order after protests turned violent.

Pro-Palestine protest camps have also emerged at universities in Britain, including Oxford and Cambridge, with demands for full disclosure of investments, cutting academic ties with Israel, and divesting from businesses linked to the country. Over 200 Oxford academics have signed an open letter in support of the protests.

The spread of pro-Palestinian protests across Europe has ignited a debate on the role of academic institutions in addressing international conflicts and human rights issues.