Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university faced protests on Friday from its students, who blocked access to the campus in condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The protesters demanded that the institution condemn Israel and show support for the Palestinians, echoing similar demonstrations on US campuses.
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. He stated that students want Sciences Po to condemn Israel’s actions and hope that other universities will follow suit. 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 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.