Pro-Palestinian occupations in Amsterdam and Nijmegen

On Monday, pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Maagdenhuis at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). There’s also an ongoing occupation at Radboud University. Police stepped in in Amsterdam, but in Nijmegen that wasn’t necessary this afternoon.

Around midday on Monday, between 50 and 100 masked pro-Palestinian activists entered UvA’s main administrative building. The staff inside were told to leave the premises.

The protesters demanded that the university cut all ties with Israeli universities immediately. In their view, suspending the partnership with the Hebrew University doesn’t go nearly far enough. They blocked entrances, raised the Palestinian flag, hung banners out of windows and set off green and red flares.

Slogans

The university board refused to negotiate with the masked occupiers and reported them to the police. Dozens of supporters in the street cheered the protesters on, according to a live blog by Folia, the university magazine. Clashes broke out when they tried to break through the police cordons.

Police cleared the Maagdenhuis and removed the protesters who hadn’t already left. Inside, slogans like ‘Free Gaza’ and ‘UvA cut ties now’ had been spray-painted on the walls. Chairs were overturned or stacked up to block emergency exits. According to the board, the building suffered significant damage.

Footbridge

In Nijmegen, 10 masked pro-Palestinian protesters have occupied a covered walkway connecting two Radboud University buildings since Monday afternoon. After several warnings, the university filed a police report last night, but so far there hasn’t been a police eviction.

Like in Amsterdam, the Nijmegen protesters are demanding an immediate end to all ties with Israeli institutions. In a conversation with them, board president Alexandra van Huffelen said a decision would follow within a few weeks, based on the recently published report from the advisory committee on partnerships, as well as on “additional information we receive – including from you”. Vox, the university magazine, reported that she didn’t want to commit to a specific date.

After a final warning from the Radboud board, Vox just reported that the 21 remaining protesters have now ended the occupation themselves. Riot police, who had arrived in vans, didn’t need to step in.

HOP, Hein Cuppen