Some unrest at Pro-Palestinian protest on Univ. Amsterdam campus

There was unrest at the pro-Palestine demonstration by students and staff members of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) at the campus on the Roeterseiland after officers confronted somebody with face coverings on. A large group of demonstrators then turned against the present officers and forced them backward.A team from broadcaster PowNed also found themselves on the receiving end of the protesters’ scorn. The police are now on the other side of the bridge on the island.

Officers guarding the ABC building have also left. The building's doors are still closed. A larger group of people have now put on face coverings.

The demonstration is aimed at the ties the UvA has with Israeli academic institutions. The speeches continued again after the confrontations. The demonstrators are now on their way to the Maagdenhuis, where a two-minute silence will be held for the victims of the war in Gaza.

“The demonstration is now moving towards the Maagdenhuis in the city center of Amsterdam. Thanks to the organizers, the security guards of the UvA, and all other parties involved, the demonstration on the Roeterseiland campus went well,” said the university.

A team from broadcaster PowNed also had to leave the location. Demonstrators chanted "Tout le monde desteste le police" ('the world hates the police') at the ABC building entrance, but nobody entered the building.

Protestors had banners with statements like 'free Palestine' and 'genocide' on them to emphasize that they feel UvA is complicit with "Israeli human rights violations" due to their ties with Israeli academic institutions.

The UvA published a statement on Monday, at the start of the academic year, about its collaboration with the Israeli authorities. The university has set up a working group to develop the "ethical assessment framework for international collaboration." This framework is, among other things, "intended to ensure that UvA research does not contribute to human rights violations."