The Globalization of the American Student Protests Against Israel

One of the key demands of the protesting American students is to halt the violence against Palestinians. Their second demand is to cease all forms of scientific, cultural, financial, and practical collaboration with Israel. The American students assert that they refuse to further their education within a system that supports Israel. Similarly, students at the University of Sydney have urged their institution to sever connections with Israeli universities and arms manufacturers.

From America to France and Australia, students from multiple universities have joined the pro-Palestinian demonstrations initiated by Columbia University students.

Images and videos shared of the student protests depict numerous students from around the world, many of whom were met with a violent response from police. They can be seen holding placards calling for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war has been ongoing for months, leading to the deaths of thousands of women, children, and civilians.

Protests that spread like wildfire

It all began when protesting students assembled on the campus of Columbia University. Since then, the protests have expanded to universities in California, Texas, and various other states.

The protest by Columbia University students intensified when the university president requested police intervention to address the sit-ins, under pressure from Republicans in Congress.

Currently, numerous universities in the United States are protesting against Israel's assaults on Gaza, which have resulted in over 34,000 casualties. The blockade of Gaza has further exacerbated the plight of Palestinians. These protests are not confined to the United States, as students worldwide have been demonstrating in solidarity with Gaza since the war began on October 7th.

Following Columbia University, the protests have extended to multiple universities in Europe, from France to Australia. In Paris, students from Sorbonne University have joined the demonstrations. Moreover, a committee has been coordinating these protests. Despite police repression, this committee has organized approximately 10 protest rallies, including those held last Wednesday and Thursday.

In Australia, students at the University of Sydney conducted rallies in solidarity with Palestine on Tuesday and continued their protests on Friday. Additionally, students from the University of Melbourne assembled at the main campus on Thursday. In Rome, Italy, students from Sapienza University organized demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes on April 17 and 18. Last month, students of the University of Leeds in England occupied the university building in protest of the association of the officials of this university with Israel.

The demands of student protesters

Naturally, one of the key demands of the protesting students is the end of the war against the Palestinian people. Additionally, a prominent demand, explicitly articulated by many students, is the termination of all forms of scientific, cultural, academic, financial, and practical collaboration with Israel. Students express their reluctance to engage in educational systems that collaborate with Israel. At the University of Sydney, students have urged their university to sever connections with universities and arms manufacturers in Israel.

The third demand put forth by the protesting students is the allocation of funds to aid the war-torn and injured Palestinians. Students at Sorbonne University are urging the French government to provide assistance to the Palestinians. Furthermore, some student groups have taken additional steps by protesting at factories and companies affiliated with Israel.

For instance, in England, protesting students have congregated outside a drone factory, calling for an end to the supply of drones to Israel. While protests have been ongoing at many US universities since the start of the war, this marks the first time that the protests and associated clashes have been so widespread.

The police clash with the protesters

Some supporters of Israel have expressed concerns about the security of universities amid the ongoing protests. They argue that the protesting students are fostering anti-Jewish intimidation and hate speech. In contrast, the demonstrators, including Jewish students, have refuted allegations of anti-Semitism.

On Wednesday, a peaceful demonstration by students was forcefully halted by the police after multiple warnings. Eyewitnesses reported that protesters were forcibly removed from the university by over 50 security personnel, with approximately 100 police officers waiting outside the university. Sorbonne students were reportedly encircled by riot police, as shown in a video released by Al Jazeera.

Several viral images and videos circulating on social media depict instances where, at the behest of university presidents, anti-riot police officers have entered various universities and utilized tear gas to quell student protests and sit-ins.

Over 200 protesters were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday at campuses in Los Angeles, Boston, and Austin, Texas. Prior to this, tense situations unfolded at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Hundreds of local and state police, some on horseback with batons, attempted to disperse the protesters, and the governor of Texas deployed the National Guard to prevent protesters from marching on campus. Officials reported that 34 individuals were arrested during these clashes.

Despite the escalating police violence at some universities, officials at other institutions are attempting to quell tensions by reaching out to students and offering reassurances, especially in light of upcoming exams.

Sciences Po University announced on Friday that protesting students have agreed to temporarily halt their demonstrations in exchange for engaging in "internal discussion and debate" with university administrators regarding the university's ties with Israel.