In recent weeks, protests against the war in Gaza have swept through American universities, with over 60 campuses experiencing demonstrations and occupations. These protests have resulted in the arrest of over 2,000 people worldwide, including at Columbia and UCLA in the United States. The images of police in riot gear clearing out these campuses have been circulating around the globe, sparking further protests at universities in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.
In Australia, pro-Palestine protests have been taking place on at least seven university campuses. Tensions arose at the University of Queensland in Brisbane when students with Israeli flags clashed with those in solidarity with Palestinians. The group Students for Palestine UQ is calling on university leaders to cut ties with Israeli companies, particularly those involved in the arms industry. Similar protests have spread to other Australian universities like the University of Sydney.
In France, students at Sciences Po and Sorbonne Universities expressed solidarity with Palestinians while facing criticism from authorities for alleged anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities. Dialogue between both sides is urged to address concerns and tensions on campus.
Protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi also took place as part of a larger movement calling for an end to Israeli companies’ presence on campus. Students denounced India’s pro-Israel stance by calling on their university not to provide a platform to representatives from nations complicit in Israel’s actions. The Students’ Federation of India has condemned India’s shift away from its historical support for Palestine.
At Canadian universities like McGill University, University of Toronto, and University of British Columbia, students demanded an end to ties with Israeli companies during peaceful protests that were met with legal challenges by police attempting to disperse them. Similarly, Lebanese students at American University Beirut demanded a boycott of companies doing business with Israel during their own peaceful protest movement.