AMSTERDAM (AP) – In sometimes violent confrontations, police broke up a protest by pro-Palestinian activists at the University of Amsterdam Wednesday in a second straight day of unrest over the war in Gaza.
After police ended a blockade on university grounds, hundreds of demonstrators moved to a nearby square to continue protesting late into the evening, demanding an end to the war. Some asked the university to sever academic relations with Israel.
It was unclear if and how many people were injured during the scuffles and how many protesters were detained by police.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police intervene in Pro-Palestinian protesters as they gather in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Also, at Utrecht University, some 45 kilometers (30 miles) to the south, students occupied a university building to protest Israeli actions in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Student protests have been gaining momentum across Europe, following similar actions in the U.S. universities where several encampments have spread out.
The war started after the Palestinian militant groups attacked the southern of Israel, killing 1,200 people in a surprise attack and taking around 250 hostage. Israel’s’ retaliatory military operation has killed more than 34,700 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and has devastated the Gaza Strip.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 08: Police forcefully intervene, arrest dozens and assaulting others in Pro-Palestinian protesters at the beginning of the second day as they gathered in University of Amsterdam to stage demonstration to call for their institution to end all ties with Israel and to protest against Israeli attacks over Gaza on May 08, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hundreds of demonstrators gather at the University of Amsterdam’s Binnengasthuis grounds and set up barricades in a pro-Palestinian protest. As the second day begins, most roads leading to Rembrandtplein remain closed, with additional street closures. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)