"We are still here"
Students and staff continue to demonstrate for Gaza
Employees of Utrecht University protesting to persuade the university administration to cut all ties with Israel. Photo: DUB
Around two hundred employees and students from Utrecht University left their lectures at noon and gathered at Janskerkhof to demand the interruption of all partnerships with Israel. Many protesters were dressed in red to symbolise the red line that they feel Israel crossed long ago with its violent attacks in Gaza. They used wooden spoons to bang on pans, plates, water bottles and lunch boxes. Several speakers addressed the crowd as well.
One of them was Law student Itaï van der Wal, one of the most well-known faces of Student Encampment, the movement that has organised several recent demonstrations. He said that Utrecht University is not doing enough and wondered why the university does not condemn the attacks on Gaza City. He believes that Utrecht University is complicit in genocide.
By organising the walkout on the day that universities celebrate the opening of the academic year, the activists aim to show that they are still there. "First-year students can join us," said Itaï.
After the brief meeting, the students returned to their lectures, and the staff members resumed their posts. Some of them went to the alternative opening of the academic year, which took place at the office of the General Education Union (AOb), on Jacobstraat.
Students left their lectures in solidarity with Palestine. Photo: DUB
Almost two years
Students and staff have been protesting to draw attention to Israel's genocidal violence in Gaza since October 2023. They have organised several meetings, walkouts, demonstrations and occupations in recent months. The goal has always been the same: that UU sever all ties with Israeli universities and organisations.
The university has revised its stance on the war in Gaza. UU has no university-wide ties with universities in Israel at present, and it is not entering into any collaborations in education or research. In addition, UU aims to withdraw from an ongoing project involving the Israeli Ministry of Health. Individual scientists affiliated with UU are still in touch with peers from Israel. Furthermore, UU hopes that the European Union will suspend Israel's participation in EU-funded research, which would make collaboration with Israel in research consortia impossible.
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