Riot police armed with batons intervened in a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on Monday, the latest in a series of clashes between police and protestors at Dutch universities.
Students and staff organized the walkout of universities across the Netherlands on Monday morning, calling for the Dutch institutions to end their complicity in “the ongoing genocide” in Gaza and denouncing violent methods that the police used to suppress peaceful protesters.
“The National Walkout protest that started peacefully has unfortunately turned into an occupation” of the UvA’s Roeterseiland campus building, the university said in a statement, calling on protestors to leave the building.
Police were called to the site by UvA, who reported destruction by demonstrators.
Sarah Bracke, professor of sociology of gender and sexuality at UvA, said on X that she and her colleagues were “horrified” by the actions of the university’s executive board.
“For three consecutive days, they have authorised extreme police violence towards their own staff and students, who were engaged in non-violent protest on campus against UvA’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the statement read.
“We are shocked the absolute disregard, disrespect and general unwillingness of the Board towards its students and staff.”
Last Monday evening, Dutch police arrested over 100 people when breaking up an encampment at the university.
In recent weeks, protests against Israel’s assault on Gaza have taken place on campuses around Europe.
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