Police entered Sciences Po university in Paris to remove pro-Gaza sit-in protesters, sparking political debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
One student, who identified himself as a representative of the Palestine Committee named Hicham, said university authorities had given the group 20 minutes to leave before the forcible evacuation because of “exams to be held from Monday”.
“The chief of police deployed law enforcement to evacuate the Sciences Po site… 91 people were removed without incident,” the Paris police headquarters said.
Bastien, 22, told AFP he and other protesters had been peacefully brought out in groups of 10 by officers.
But another student, Lucas, working towards a master’s degree, said “some were dragged and others gripped by the head or shoulders”.
Administrators had closed Sciences Po’s main buildings on Friday in response to the sit-in and called for remote classes instead.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s office said such protests would be dealt with using “total rigour”, adding that 23 university sites had been “evacuated” on Thursday.
Despite the dispersal, the Paris pro-Gaza movement remains resilient. Activists regroup, planning future demonstrations and educational events. They aim to keep the issue of Gaza in the spotlight and mobilize support for their cause.
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