Anti-Israel riots have spread to the Netherlands.
In the early Tuesday morning hours, police arrested more than 120 people at an encampment erected at the University of Amsterdam. The sweeping arrest comes as demonstrations calling for the death of America and Israel have roiled campuses in the U.S. and now Europe.
Police in the Dutch capital said the protests turned violent and that their action was “necessary to restore order” in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
Officers used batons and shields as they moved into the demonstration, beating some of the protesters and pulling down tents, video from the scene aired by national broadcaster NOS showed. Police also used a mechanical digger to rip down barricades.
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Anti-Israel students wave Palestinian flags and placards at the University of Amsterdam campus on May 6, 2024. (NICK GAMMON/AFP via Getty Images)
There were no reported injuries.
On Monday, the European agitators copied the template of those at elite U.S. colleges and universities as they formed barricades from wooden pallets and bicycles, NOS reported.
Photos from the Amsterdam campus showed the agitators had erected tents, displayed anti-Israel banners and had gathered containers of food.
University of Amsterdam students set up an anti-Israel encampment on campus on Monday as part of their calls for the university to sever all ties with the Jewish state because of its war with Hamas. (NICK GAMMON/AFP via Getty Images)
More and more people joined the demonstrators, who ultimately occupied a section of the university. They urged Amsterdam universities to break academic ties with Israel over its war with Hamas in Gaza and the rising civilian death toll.
Police intervened after scuffles broke out on the campus Monday night between two rival groups.
Anti-Israel protesters were evacuated by bus under police surveillance at the University of Amsterdam early Tuesday morning. (EVA PLEVIER/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Two rival groups clashed at an anti-Israel protest at the University of Amsterdam on Tuesday. (EVA PLEVIER/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Officers gave repeated orders for the protesters to leave, which they said went ignored, so they cleared the makeshift camp.
“The protest in this form created a very unsafe situation, partly due to the barricades that prevented emergency services from entering the site. In the event of a disaster, the activists themselves could possibly become stuck on the site,” police said.
Officers gave repeated orders for the protesters to leave, but were ignored. (EVA PLEVIER/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Police said the campus remained calm on Tuesday after the crowd was dispersed.
Campuses in France and the United Kingdom have also seen demonstrations in recent days.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
