University of Amsterdam: Violence breaks out at pro-Palestinian protest

The Dutch police used bulldozers to destroy anti-Israel encampments at the University of Amsterdam. The video related to this is circulating on social media platform X. Reportedly, some students were also injured in this police act.

"The encampment at the University of Amsterdam had the riot police called on it in its first 12 hours. UvA called the police on its own students, who then razed unarmed student protestors with a bulldozer. Over a 100 protestors are now arrested. power to the students. in our lifetime," reads a message on the X platform.

"Pro Palestinian students have begun setting up barricades in preparation for further escalation by the police and Zionist groups at the encampment at the University of Amsterdam that started today in solidarity with Gaza. Demanding their university divests from Israeli interests," said another message on X platform.

The videos circulating show that police used a mechanical digger to push down barricades, beat some of the protestors and pull down the tent. 

University of Amsterdam Pro-Palestine Protest: The Background

In the day, many students gathered at the university and chanted slogans against the war in Gaza. "Free, Free Palestine!", protesters shouted. "The people united will never be defeated," as reported by Reuters. 

"The protest in this form created a very unsafe situation, partly due to the barricades that prevented emergency services from entering the site," the police statement said, as reported by India Today. As per reports, a university person said that while they supported the protests throughout the day, they cannot permit the same at night.

Education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf stated that he was saddened to see such violence in universities. Also, Dutch police said on X that these steps were "necessary to restore order" as the protests had turned violent. Such demonstrations first started in US universities and now even other countries are witnessing such protests by the students. Other countries that saw similar protests include the UK, France and also in some Australian universities.

Read more:

• Gaza Protest: University of Rochester not to cut ties with Israel, says Spokesperson
• UCLA to reopen classes after massive protest; Creates campus safety role