Protest continues: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupy Amsterdam University overnight
Pro-Palestinian protesters continued to occupy a University of Amsterdam (UvA) site into Wednesday, following a day of clashes with police in the Dutch capital that disrupted a previous encampment at the university.
Unlike the events of Tuesday when riot police dismantled barricades with a bulldozer and arrested 169 people at another campus, police stated that UvA had not requested intervention to halt the current protest.
In a statement issued just after midnight, UvA expressed its desire to resolve the situation amicably with the students who have been demonstrating since Monday. The university also noted that the protests have inflicted "considerable damage" to its facilities. Due to ongoing blockades, several university locations remained closed on Wednesday.
The students are protesting UvA's academic ties with Israel, criticizing the university's handling of the demonstrations. UvA has accused some protesters of engaging in intimidating behavior. Videos have shown violent confrontations between pro- and anti-Palestinian groups.
Meanwhile, in Utrecht, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Amsterdam, local police disbanded a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University library, according to a police statement.
