The pro-Palestinian student movement has taken a new turn by occupying Sciences Po Paris in support of Palestinians and denouncing the massacre of Israeli civilians in Gaza. On Thursday, April 25 to Friday, April 26, about fifty students camped inside the famous school to raise awareness for the cause.
The movement was organized by the Palestinian Political Science Committee and has spread to other universities in Paris. The students demanded that Israel be held accountable for its actions and that collaborations with entities complicit in Palestinian oppression be ended. They also called for an end to repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.
The occupation sparked political discussions and reactions from various figures such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who expressed admiration for the students’ actions. The police were not present in the morning, but the students remained at the scene both inside and outside the building with locked doors and no classes for the day.
As of now, it is unclear when or if the students will leave Sciences Po Paris, but their actions have drawn attention and support from various sources, including political figures and organizations like Crif (Council of Jewish Institutions of France). The conflict in Gaza continues to be a contentious issue around the world, and this occupation highlights the role that universities can play in promoting social justice and advocating for change.
