UPDATES WITH DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGH
By Selman Aksunger
AMSTERDAM (AA) - Police on Tuesday intervened in a Pro-Palesti̇ne student encampment at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and detained around 125 people.
The university administration reportedly prevented students from attending the campus, obtaining permission from Dutch prosecutors for intervention, according to the police.
The police reported that around 125 people were detained, and before the intervention, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema visited the campus to negotiate between security forces and the university administration.
Police presence on campus on Tuesday morning resulted in the collection of tents and belongings of Palestine supporters, and the area was closed to student entrances and exits.
A camp to show solidarity with Gaza was set up on Monday at the university and police were seen at the entrances to the campsite on campus.
The students, camping in tents on the university's Roeterseiland campus, demanded that the school administration cut its ties with Israeli-affiliated institutions.
- Police violence: Activist speaks out
Speaking on behalf of the group Justice for Palestine, a student named Raoul told Anadolu that they urged the university administration to cut ties with Israeli institutions.
Raoul stressed the need for the university to be transparent in cutting ties with Israeli institutions, saying the administration has not heeded their demands.
The protesters' written calls and other actions to end cooperation with Israeli institutions have been met with pressure and police violence, Raoul said, adding that they would continue their actions on campus until their demands are met.
Another student, who asked not to be named, also expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, stating that they joined the protest to oppose attacks on Palestinians and to urge the university to cut its ties with Israel.
Also, Sam Wayland, a detained activist, told Anadolu that the police arrived with bulldozers at midnight in the area.
"The demonstration started peacefully. There was no problem, and it continued like this until 3 a.m. (0100GMT). Then the police violence started. Although some activists were on the barricades, the police intervened with bulldozers. When some activists threw fireworks at the police, the police used it as a reason to resort to violence," said Wayland.
He added that the police also intervened harshly against peaceful activists who did not resist, and he recounted experiencing violence from a police officer wielding a baton.
Since protests started last month at a number of US universities in support of Palestine, the protests have spread worldwide, including in universities across Europe.
*Writing by Esra Tekin and Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul