Dutch riot police dispersed a pro-Palestinian demonstration at an Amsterdam university early on Tuesday, resulting in the arrest of approximately 125 individuals amid sporadic clashes, authorities confirmed.
Messages shared on social media by the police detailed the necessity of intervening to halt the event and dismantle tents erected by protesters, who reportedly engaged in violence against law enforcement personnel.
Acknowledging the intensity of the situation portrayed in circulating footage, police stated their intervention was essential to restore order. While demonstrators were observed launching fireworks at officers, there were no immediate reports of injuries on either side.
Subsequently, authorities declared the area around the Roeterseiland campus to be calm.
Outgoing Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf lamented the need for police intervention, underlining universities as spaces for dialogue and debate.
Across Europe, student protests related to the conflict in Gaza and academic ties with Israel have emerged, albeit on a smaller scale compared to those witnessed in the United States. Notably, recent actions included police intervention at France’s Sciences Po university in Paris to remove student activists occupying its premises, while over 100 students continued to occupy Ghent University in Belgium, staging protests related to climate and the Gaza conflict with plans to extend their demonstration until Wednesday.
