Protests sweep US universities amid Israel-Gaza conflict, over 280 arrested

Demonstrations erupted across university campuses in the United States as tensions heightened over Israel's military actions in Gaza. There were widespread arrests in New York and a troubling clash in California at night.

In New York City, the NYPD reported over 280 arrests at Columbia University and the City College of New York, spanning from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Law enforcement moved to clear students who had occupied Columbia University's Hamilton Hall since April 30.

Hamilton Hall, known for its past activism during South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, was renamed "Hind's Hall" in memory of 6-year-old Hind Rajab, tragically killed with her family by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Meghnad Bose, a student journalist at Columbia University, witnessed the police intervention firsthand. "I saw how the police dispersed those protests, arrested them, and sometimes got pretty aggressive in making sure the protesters went away," he said, according to Al Jazeera.

Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of operations, highlighted Columbia University's request for police assistance in reclaiming their campus. He stated that the police were "dispersing the unlawful encampment and persons barricaded inside of university buildings and restoring order."

Meanwhile, tensions escalated at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as pro-Israel counter-protesters clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Witnesses reported attempts by the assailants to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, resorting to violence by hurling objects and wielding sticks.

Sergio Olmos, an investigative journalist reporting from UCLA, observed the chaotic scene as counter-protesters engaged in aggressive behavior. He detailed their efforts to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, including throwing glass bottles and wielding sticks.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the escalating violence at UCLA at the university's request, addressing multiple incidents of aggression within the encampment.

Despite the turmoil, the pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA persisted, with student protesters holding their ground against the attacks. Rob Reynolds, reporting from Los Angeles, highlighted the resilience of the demonstrators amid adversity.

The surge in protests across US campuses stemmed from heightened tensions following Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7 and the prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza, resulting in staggering Palestinian casualties, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The recent wave of demonstrations gained momentum nearly two weeks prior, sparked by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik's contentious testimony before a US congressional committee. Critics accused Shafik of prioritizing lawmakers' interests over those of the university's students.

Amid an array of demands, protesters called for divestment from Israel and companies associated with the conflict. They denounced administrators for allegedly exploiting public safety concerns and weaponizing accusations of anti-Semitism to suppress dissent.

The wave of arrests extended beyond New York, with 14 protesters detained at Tulane University in New Orleans, alongside arrests at the University of South Florida and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The protests garnered international attention, with Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, condemning the violent police response at US universities. She decried the actions as reflective of a dystopian reality and called for an end to the ongoing conflict.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence at UCLA as abhorrent and inexcusable. New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the police crackdown at Columbia University, attributing the protests to individuals unaffiliated with the institution.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) criticized both the NYPD and Columbia University for their handling of the situation, drawing parallels between the university's current actions and its past oppression of student activism during the Vietnam War and the South African apartheid era.