Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university was blocked by students on Friday in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The students demanded that the institution condemn Israel and show support for the Palestinians. This echoed similar demonstrations on US campuses, where 22-year-old Hicham, a masters student in human rights and humanitarian studies at Sciences Po, emphasized the importance of the academic world taking a stand against the violence in Gaza.
The interim director of Sciences Po, Jean Basseres, condemned the blockade of the building and stated that police had removed a group of students the previous night. He is in discussions with student representatives to find a resolution to the situation. Meanwhile, clashes between police and students protesting against Israel’s actions in Gaza have escalated on US campuses, prompting concerns about the use of force to suppress demonstrations.
20-year-old Zoe, a masters student in public administration at Sciences Po, stated that they will continue protesting until the violence in Gaza stops. The protest included displaying Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh head scarves. It is unclear what led to the blockade of the campus or how many students participated in it. However, it is clear that this issue continues to be highly divisive within academic communities around the world.