2024 University of Twente pro-Palestinian campus protests

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2024 University of Twente pro-Palestinian campus protests
Part of 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands and Gaza war protests
Protesters stand with a banner reading "UT Cut the ties" outside the University of Twente administrative building (Vleugel), 12 June 2024.
DateMay 2024 - October 2024
Location
University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
Methods

In May 2024, University of Twente students and staff organized a series of pro-Palestinian protests on campus and in the city center to support Palestinians in Gaza and demand action from the university.[1][2]

Background

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Escalation of protests

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Further information: 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands
These paragraphs are an excerpt from 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.[edit]
Pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses escalated in April 2024, spreading in the United States and other countries, as part of wider Gaza war protests. The escalation, nicknamed by activists the "student intifada", began on April 18 after mass arrests at the Columbia University campus occupation, led by anti-Zionist groups, in which protesters demanded the university's disinvestment from Israel over the Gaza genocide. Over 3,100 protesters were arrested in the U.S., including faculty members and professors, on over 60 campuses. Protests spread across Europe in May with mass arrests in the Netherlands, 20 encampments established in the United Kingdom, and across universities in Australia and Canada.

Worldwide campus protests

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These paragraphs are an excerpt from List of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in 2024.[edit]
Encampments were established at 36 institutions in the United Kingdom, including 21 of the 24 institutions in the Russell Group, with some institutions having more than one encampment;[3] across universities in Australia,[4] beginning with the University of Sydney;[5] and in Canada, including an encampment at McGill University.[6] On May 7, protests spread further on European campuses after mass arrests at the University of Amsterdam campus occupation,[7] including occupation of campus buildings at Leipzig University in Germany, Sciences Po in France, and Ghent University in Belgium.[8] As of May 8, protests have taken place in more than 25 countries.[9] On May 13, approximately 1,000 Dutch students and university staff took part in a national walk-out.[10]

Campus protests in the Netherlands

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These paragraphs are an excerpt from 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands.[edit]
On May 6, 2024, pro-Palestinian protests broke out at the University of Amsterdam which quickly spread to other universities in the Randstad and the rest of the Netherlands. Although protests had been taking place as early as October 2023, which marks the start of the Gaza war, the protests intensified in May in the light of the Rafah offensive on May 6 and recent similar protests in the United States and elsewhere.

Timeline

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Protestors removed after disrupting the opening of the academic year continue their protest outside the venue (Wilminktheater), 2 September 2024

On 13 May, Enschede Students for Palestine delivered an open letter signed by 603 people to the Executive Board, calling for disclosure of ties, ending all ties, divestment, supporting Palestinian students and staff in the university, and creating fellowships and scholarships for students and academics in Palestine, and partnerships with Palestinian universities.[11][12][13][14] This began several dialogue sessions and between the Enschede Students for Palestine and the Executive Board, with the Board ultimately refusing to cut any ties.[15]

On 24 May, the action group disrupted the Dies Natalis, interrupting twice the secretary-general at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management's keynote speech.[16] Subsequently, students and staff began a series of daily protest marches through the university.[17]

On 12 June, activists occupied the Vleugel administration building, where the Executive Board offices are, in response to the "unproductive talks" with the Board. The occupation lasted for several hours. Even though police was present, protesters ended up disbanding on their own.[18]

On 2 September, during the opening of the academic year, the action group disrupted the keynote speech by Jos Benschop, vice-chairman of ASML, protesting the universities ties and ASML's alleged involvement in links to Israel. The protesters were physically removed by security.[19]

Throughout the year, the action group also held multiple demonstrations and sit-ins at the Enschede train station.[20][21][22][23]

Reactions

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Spokespersons of the Executive Board defended the right for students to demonstrate on campus and was in contact with the organizers of the protests.[24] The Board claimed that the collaborations of the university are in part determined by which countries are sanctioned or not, but that decisions to cut ties on ethic grounds would be explored "in the coming period".[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Deutsch, Anthony (7 May 2024). "Pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam turns violent after student rally halted". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ Pascoe, Robin (7 May 2024). "UvA officials defend police action in ending Palestine protest". DutchNews.nl. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  3. ^ Josh Freeman (30 January 2025). 'There was nothing to do but take action': The encampments protesting for Palestine and the response to them (Report). HEPI.
  4. ^ "Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampments at universities in Australia". AP News. 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ^ Dumas, Daisy (1 May 2024). "Australian university students are camping out in support of Gaza. Here's what you need to know". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ Regan, Helen (3 May 2024). "Where pro-Palestinian university protests are happening around the world". CNN. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Pro-Palestinian student protests spread across Europe. Some are allowed. Some are stopped". AP News. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ Kassam, Ashifa (8 May 2024). "Clashes and arrests as pro-Palestinian protests spread across European campuses". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Mapping pro-Palestine college campus protests around the world". Al Jazeera. 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Amsterdam: Police move in after pro-Palestinian protesters occupy university buildings". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Open letter to the Executive Board: cut ties with Israel". www.utoday.nl. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  12. ^ "UT-studenten eisen steun voor Palestina en stopzetting Israëlische samenwerking". 1Twente (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Twentse studenten eisen dat UT alle banden verbreekt met Israël: 'Woensdag volgt protest in Enschede'". Tubantia. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  14. ^ "UT-studenten eisen steun voor Palestina en stopzetting Israëlische samenwerking". www.oost.nl (in Dutch). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Executive Board: in dialogue with Palestine action group, no ties to be severed". www.utoday.nl. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Dies natalis UT interrupted twice by Palestine demonstrators". www.utoday.nl. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Dagelijkse marsen bij UT voor Palestina: 'Als ze niet luisteren, gaan we verder escaleren'" [Daily marches at UT for Palestine: 'If they don't listen, we'll escalate further']. Tubantia. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Occupation of Vleugel building by Palestine protesters ended". www.utoday.nl. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  19. ^ "UT wacht jaar vol kopzorgen; einde van 'eliteklas' lijkt nabij" [UT faces a year of worries; end of 'elite class' seems near]. Tubantia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Demonstranten op Enschede CS tegen het geweld in Gaza: 'Zelfs het kleinste protest maakt impact'". Tubantia. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  21. ^ "'From the river to the sea…': pro-Palestina-demonstratie op Enschedees station verloopt rustig". 1Twente (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Demonstranten vragen aandacht en steun voor Palestina op stations Zwolle en Enschede". www.oost.nl (in Dutch). 15 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Rustige pro-Palestijnse sit-in op station Enschede". Tubantia. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Demonstranten in en rond de Vleugel". Universiteit Twente (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Zorg voor elkaar in tijden van conflict" [Care for each other in times of conflict]. Universiteit Twente (in Dutch). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2025.