Police break through barricade and clear pro-Palestinian protest at Amsterdam university | Abroad

First, the police cleared the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, near the UvA grounds. In that street were hundreds of sympathizers of the demonstrators occupying the campus. After three demands to leave, the police took action: the demonstrators were removed, some were injured.

The spectators were pushed to the back with batons and shields, to be taken away via Sint Agnietenstraat to Oudezijds Voorburgwal.

Ambulances are present during the evacuation of the Binnengasthuis site. Two activists were examined by ambulance personnel. Dozens of activists stood arm in arm against a building in front of the entrance to the site for some time. They were also surrounded by riot police officers. The last demonstrators have now been removed.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema (GroenLinks) ordered the lifting of the blockade on the UvA campus, the police said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people who wanted to participate in the pro-Palestine action are stopped by the police in nearby Rokin, near the Spui. The police are thus trying to prevent them from joining the group on the Binnengasthuis site via the opposite Langebrugsteeg, an ANP reporter reports. There is pushing and shoving between demonstrators and police. Most demonstrators wear face masks or scarves over their faces to avoid being recognized.

City buses parked on Rokin, probably intended to transport detainees, have been defaced with the slogan ‘Free Palestine’, reports ‘AT5’. According to the city channel, activists deflated the tires.

The Binnengasthuis site of the UvA has been occupied since Tuesday afternoon by activists who want the university to cut all ties with Israel, the Dutch daily ‘AD’ reports. The University of Amsterdam has reported trespassing and vandalism because safety in and around the buildings was at risk. According to the UvA, local residents felt unsafe due to the blockade and “major destruction” was caused in the occupied buildings. The demonstrators have left behind a huge mess inside. The walls have also been defaced with slogans.

Amnesty International has been present since 4:30 pm this afternoon with a team of observers to collect data, images and information about the protest and eviction. “We do this so that we have facts at our disposal to enter into discussions with the local authority,” a spokesperson said. “We have been given sufficient space by the police to do our work.”

In the night from Monday to Tuesday, a protest was also cleared on another campus of the University of Amsterdam, after the protest was attacked by (masked) men in the afternoon. There is disagreement in the city council about how to deal with the protests. Parties such as GroenLinks want dialogue to be entered into with the demonstrators, while the conservative-liberal VVD is calling for intervention, ‘AT5’ reports.

Action is also being taken elsewhere in the Netherlands against the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of demonstrators will arrive again on the grounds of the Utrecht University Library on Wednesday afternoon, after the site was also occupied on Tuesday. Dozens of people were then arrested.

Some Utrecht demonstrators hang out of windows and stand on a balcony. Palestinian flags hang in the windows. They shout, among other things, “Cops off campus!”

The demonstrators stood earlier on Wednesday at the Academy Building of Utrecht University (UU) on Domplein. They also had Palestinian flags there and shouted slogans such as “UU shame on you”. The pro-Palestinian activists want the UU to cut all ties with Israel.

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