Students at Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university protested the war in Gaza by blocking access to the institution on Friday. They demanded that the university condemn Israel’s actions, echoing similar demonstrations on US campuses. Chanting in support of the Palestinians, the students displayed flags and wore keffiyeh head scarves as symbols of solidarity with Gaza.
22-year-old Hicham, a masters student in human rights and humanitarian studies at Sciences Po, emphasized the role of the academic world in speaking out against injustice. The students accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called for condemnation of Israel’s actions by Sciences Po. 20-year-old Zoe, a masters student in public administration at Sciences Po, expressed the students’ determination to continue protesting until the “genocide in Gaza ends.”
Science Po’s interim director, Jean Basseres, condemned the building blockade in a letter to teachers. Police removed a group of students on Wednesday night, and discussions were ongoing with student representatives to resolve the situation. Elsewhere, clashes between police and students opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza erupted on US campuses, prompting concerns about the use of force to suppress protests following mass arrests at Columbia University.