Protests against the war in Gaza escalate from US universities to France

From Columbia University in the United States to Science Po, the faculty of presidents, prime ministers, and ministers in France, the pro-Palestinian student movement has spread to Paris. Around fifty students camped inside the famous school on the night of Thursday, April 25 to Friday, April 26 in support of Palestinians. They were joined by others and denounced the massacre of Israeli civilians in Gaza.

A few dozen students mobilized in favor of the Palestinians decided to occupy a new building at Sciences Po Paris on Thursday afternoon. This came just a day after a police evacuation of another part of the establishment, similar to actions at American universities.

The occupation was decided in a general assembly and the students chanted for the honor of Palestine and those being murdered. The committee at Sciences Po Paris requested a clear condemnation of Israel’s actions, an end to collaborations with entities complicit in Palestinian oppression, and an end to repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.

As of Friday, the students were still present at the scene, both inside and outside the building, with doors locked and no classes for the day. The police were not present in the morning. Political figures such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed admiration for the students and their actions.

The movement was organized by the Palestinian Political Science Committee and spread to other universities in Paris. The student activists were taken out of the school by police, sparking political discussions and reactions. The president of the Crif (Council of Jewish Institutions of France) expressed concern over the movement holding the campus hostage and impeding academic freedom.

Overall, the pro-Palestinian student movement at Sciences Po Paris has drawn attention and support from various sources, sparking discussions about the conflict in Gaza and the role of universities in political activism.