Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university was the site of a student protest on Friday, as students blocked access to the campus in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The demonstration, which featured Palestinian flags and keffiyeh head scarves, mirrored similar protests on US campuses.
Hicham, a 22-year-old 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. Zoe, a 20-year-old masters student in public administration at Sciences Po, stated that they will continue protesting until the violence stops.
Jean Basseres, the interim director of Sciences Po, condemned the blockade of the building and noted that police had removed a group of students from the premises the previous night. He is currently in discussions with student representatives to find a resolution to the situation. Meanwhile, tensions 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.
