French police peacefully removed dozens of students from a building at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po, who were gathered in support of Palestinians. The students waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans in solidarity with residents of Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing offensive following a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. The university administration had closed the main buildings and shifted classes online.
Some students still occupied the building when police entered to evacuate them. Pro-Palestinian students planned a protest near the Pantheon monument to call for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Similar demonstrations took place in other universities in Lille and Lyon.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that police removed students from 23 sites on French campuses within a few hours. A police presence will be maintained near Sciences Po to prevent further blockades. Tensions flared at the elite university last week when pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators faced off, with riot police intervening to separate the groups. The protest ended peacefully as pro-Palestinian students agreed to leave.
