Students and Activists Protest Against Ongoing Conflict in Gaza at European Universities

In response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, students and activists in Europe have taken to the streets in protests that have gained significant momentum. The latest demonstration took place at the University of Amsterdam, where police broke up a gathering of pro-Palestinian activists for a second consecutive day of unrest. After police lifted a blockade on the university premises, approximately 200 protesters relocated to a nearby square, where they continued their demonstration into the night, calling for an end to the war. Certain individuals demanded that the institution cut ties with Israel. It is uncertain whether any injuries resulted from the altercations and how many protesters were apprehended by law enforcement. Similar actions have occurred at Utrecht University, some 45 kilometers away, where students occupied a university building to denounce Israeli actions during the conflict. These student protests follow a trend that began in the United States, where multiple encampments have emerged. The recent surge in violence began when Palestinian militant factions launched attacks on the southern Israeli region, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 others. Israel’s subsequent military response has claimed more than 34,700 Palestinian lives, as reported by local health authorities, and left the Gaza Strip in ruins.