Students at the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) university in Paris staged a protest blocking access to the campus in response to Israel’s war on Gaza. The demonstration mirrored similar protests occurring at universities and colleges in the United States. The students, chanting in support of Palestinians, displayed Palestinian flags and wore keffiyeh head scarves to show solidarity with Gaza.
Hicham, a 22-year-old master’s student in human rights and humanitarian studies at Sciences Po, emphasized the importance of the academic world taking a stand against Israel’s actions. He expressed hope that the movement seen in the United States and Australia would gain momentum in France. Zoe, a 20-year-old master’s student in public administration, echoed these sentiments and highlighted the students’ determination to continue protesting until the situation in Gaza improved.
Despite the students’ demands, Sciences Po officials did not provide a response to the protest. Earlier in the week, police had removed a group of students blocking access to the university, a move that drew criticism from left-wing politicians. The students at Sciences Po and other universities in France are joining the global outcry against the violence in Gaza, calling for an end to what they describe as genocide.