More and More Students in Europe Join Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations

DUBLIN – More and more students in Europe are joining the wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and opposing the brutal war Israel in Gaza. Most recently, demonstrations broke out in Ireland and Switzerland.

Students at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland took action to occupy campuses, joining a wave of demonstrations that hit campuses in the United States (US).

In Dublin, students have been encamped since Friday, forcing the university to restrict campus access on Saturdays and close the Book of Kells exhibition, one of Ireland’s main visiting sites.

The camp was set up after the student union said it had been fined €214,000 (USD230,000) by the university for harm caused by protests in recent months, not only related to Gaza.

Protesters are demanding that Trinity sever academic ties with Israel and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Student union president Laszlo Molnarfia saidposting photo of benches stacked at the entrance of the building that houses the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks around 800 AD.

Trinity College said it had restricted access for students, staff and residents to ensure safety, and the exhibition was due to close on Saturday.

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s brutal seven-month assault on the Gaza Strip, health officials in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave say.

The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 252 others, 133 of whom are believed to still be held captive in Gaza, according to Israeli regime figures.