Several dozen lecturers and other members of the University of Amsterdam staff plan to hold their own demonstration at the Roeterseiland campus on Tuesday afternoon, in support of students arrested when police broke up their pro-Palestine protest.

The police took action in the early hours of Tuesday morning after the students, who were calling on the university to cut ties with Israel, refused to leave the area.

“We are furious about the police action,” sociology lecturer Sam Hamer told the AD. “A peaceful demonstration led all too quickly to police violence.”

Student unions ASVA and the national Landelijke Studentenvakbond have also said they are concerned about the force used to remove the students. In total, some 140 people were arrested when riot police were brought in a bulldozer was used to break through barriers and clear the area.

“The right to demonstrate is a fundamental right which should be protected whatever it costs,” said ASVA deputy chairwoman Ilona Polle. The police action, she said, “was both an attack on the integrity and safety of Amsterdam students, and an infringement of their democratic rights.”

The university board, meanwhile, has published a statement saying that while it shares the anger and shock about the war in Gaza, “dialogue is the only answer within a university setting”.

Demonstrations are allowed within the confines of the university but “without facial coverings, blockades, spending the night and intimidation,” the board said.

The demonstration began on Monday afternoon when the group began setting up tents and demanding that Amsterdam universities cut their ties with Israel. They also closed two bridges and the entrance to the campus next to the Nieuwe Prinsengracht.

However, the police, public prosecution department and city council decided to break up the camp after the university asked the protesters several times to leave and they refused.

According to broadcaster NOS, riot police began moving in at around 3 am and the site was cleared by 4.30 am.

Video footage also showed a group of around 10 masked men attacking the protesters, hitting some with pieces of wood and throwing fireworks. According to news agency ANP they were eventually chased off.  As yet, it is unclear who the assailants were.

Cooperation

Earlier in the evening, the university published a statement outlining its activities in Israel, as the students had demanded. The UvA said it operated student exchanges with the University of Tel Aviv, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben Gurion University, but no exchanges are currently taking place because of the negative travel advice.

In addition, the university said, it works on eight European research projects that involve Israeli researchers or companies.

Education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf issued a short statement on Tuesday morning saying he regretted the fact the police were forced to intervene.

“Universities are pre-eminent places for debate and dialogue,” he said. “You can express your unhappiness and your emotions, but do it in a way that is safe for everyone and that everyone feels safe.”