French police peacefully removed students from the Paris Institute of Political Studies, Sciences Po, who had gathered in support of Palestinians. The students waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans in solidarity with residents of Gaza amidst ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. The campus had been occupied since Thursday evening, prompting the university administration to close main buildings and move classes online.
Anti-Israel students were planning to hold a protest in front of the Pantheon monument to call for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Similar protests took place in universities across France, with police being called to remove students from 23 sites on Thursday. A police presence will be maintained near Sciences Po to prevent any further blockades. Tensions broke out near the university with pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators facing off in the street, but the protest ended peacefully as pro-Palestinian students agreed to leave.
The solidarity demonstrations at Sciences Po echoed similar gatherings in the United States, with students showing their support for Palestinians. The Israeli-Hamas war was triggered by a deadly attack on October 7, leading to continued hostilities. Sciences Po had been occupied since Thursday evening, prompting the university to close down its main buildings and transition classes online.
Further protests were planned in front of the Pantheon monument to demand an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Police were called to remove students from multiple campuses across France, all of which were evacuated within a few hours. Tensions near Sciences Po escalated when pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators faced off, but the protest ended peacefully as pro-Palestinian students agreed to leave.
Last week, tensions escalated near Sciences Po, with pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators in a standoff. Riot police intervened to separate the groups, and the protest ended peacefully when pro-Palestinian students decided to leave. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that a police presence would be maintained near Sciences Po to prevent further blockades. Sciences Po counts President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal among its famous alumni, highlighting the significance of the protests near the elite university.
