European Student Protests Escalate against Israeli Ties

Hundreds of students from the University of Amsterdam occupy a campus building in central Amsterdam, demanding an end to partnerships with Israeli institutions because of Israel's punishing assault on Gaza.

Student protests to demand that universities break ties with Israel over the Gaza war spread across Europe, with police breaking up demonstrations in the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Students at some elite European universities, inspired by ongoing demonstrations at US campuses, have been occupying university halls and facilities, demanding an end to partnerships with Israeli institutions because of Israel's punishing assault on Gaza.

At the University of Amsterdam, images showed police baton-charging protesters and smashing up tents, after they refused to leave the campus.

"The demonstration took on a violent nature because later in the evening massive stones were removed from the ground," police said in a statement.

Also at Berlin's Free University, police also cleared a demonstration after up to 80 people set up a protest camp in a courtyard of the campus early.

The university said property was damaged while classes in some buildings were suspended for the day.

In Paris, police twice intervened at Paris's prestigious Sciences Po university to disperse about 20 students who had barricaded themselves in the university's main hall.

Police moved in to allow other students to take their exams and made two arrests, according to Paris prosecutors. The university said the exams were able to proceed without incident.

Police have intervened several times over the past week at Sciences Po, where protesters are demanding the university reveal its partnerships with Israeli institutions.

Some 13 students are on a hunger strike, according to the university.

In Switzerland, protests spread to three universities across the country.