Students had on Friday, April 26, blocked access to Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university over the war in Gaza.
The scholars were calling for the institution to criticise Israel’s actions, in a protest that reiterated similar demonstrations on U.S. campuses.
The students had flown Palestinian flags at windows and over the school’s entrance and also chanted their support for Palestinians.
Several too had worn the black-and-white keffiyeh head scarf — an emblem of solidarity with Gaza.
Meanwhile, Science Po’s temporary director, Jean Basseres, censured the blockade of the building in a letter to teachers.
Basseres had confirmed that on Wednesday night, police officers removed a first group of students protesting. He had added that he was now talking with student representatives to try and figure out a solution to the new blockade.
At present, clashes between the police and students opposing Israel’s war in Gaza have broken out and intensified on U.S campuses on Thursday, and it has raised questions about forceful methods being used to shut down protests that have heightened since mass arrests at Columbia University last week.
The Israel-Gaza war has seen about 34,305 Palestinians killed as Israel retaliates against an October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Isrealis and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
