Pro-Palestine Demonstrations: After US Universities, it spreads to UK, France

It started at Columbia University, and first spread to other prominent universities in the US and then to other countries including, the UK, France, Australia and others.

University students across countries are demanding a complete divestment from Israeli companies in the wake of the Gaza war. The protest started at Columbia University in the US and now the movement gained momentum in other countries as well. 

The protesting students have set up temporary encampments on campus grounds.

Many were arrested at Columbia University and other universities in the US. Law enforcement has aggressively disbanded the ongoing protests.

Recently, police in Los Angeles have cleared out such protests at the University of Southern California (USC). USC President Carol Folt thanked the police and campus security for clearing the camp "as peacefully and safely as possible", as reported by BBC. 

Similar, protests were seen at the University of Mississippi this week when scores of pro-Palestine protestors gathered for similar demands. 

Indian Americans warn US Universities against demand for Kashmir Flag

As per reports, Indian Americans have urged US Universities not to implement one of the demands of students to display on campus the flags of "occupied people", which listed Kashmiris along with Palestinians and the Kurds.

Thomas Abraham, chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), wrote in a letter to Jonathan Holloway President, Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey state that,"This is a dangerous territory for Rutgers to get involved (sic)"

"By even considering this demand, you are questioning the integrity of India. Kashmir is very much a part of India. There is no separate flag for Kashmir. Kashmir residents are not displaced people. In fact, the displaced people are the Hindu minorities who had to leave Kashmir because of violence against them. If Rutgers displays such a flag of Kashmir, that will be the beginning of more sit-ins by students who are opposed to such flags," Mr Abraham wrote, as reported by NDTV.

French President Macron criticises Universities protests

French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised the pro-Palestine demonstrations at the French universities. 

"It is perfectly legitimate and even reasonable and reassuring that our youth can say that international events affect them and discuss them. But using violence and blockades to force an institution to adopt this or that policy, to prevent other students from entering a lecture hall on the pretext that they are Jewish - that is not the Republic," Macron said, as reported by newspapers La Provence and La Tribune Dimanche.

Read more:

• Columbia University Pro-Palestine Protest: Order must prevail, says Joe Biden
• Pro-Palestinian encampments launched at five elite British universities