Group of men seeks confrontation with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UvA | Domestic

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators pitched tents at the campus on Roeterseiland in Amsterdam on Monday afternoon. They demand, among other things, that the UvA sever all ties with Israel. But in the evening that protest was disrupted by a group of troublemakers.

According to a reporter from the ANP It is unclear at the scene what the motive was of the group that behaved aggressively. One of them was wearing a helmet. The faces of the others were visible. After about ten minutes, the men were driven away from the UvA grounds by demonstrators.

Even outside the barricaded area, people with Israeli expressions, such as the flag of Israel, sought confrontation with demonstrators. Images on social media show some of them being beaten.

Peace has now returned to the university grounds. The UvA has ordered the remaining demonstrators to leave. Many of them are not listening yet. The police are talking to them.

On X the police are calling on people to stay away from the occupation on Roeterseiland. According to the police, the protest has a “pulling effect”.

A police spokesperson reports ANP to investigate the incident with the counter-protesters. No one has been arrested yet. The spokesperson said the group had “snuck in” to the protest. He does not know whether anyone was injured.

A little later, Mayor Femke Halsema also came to the protest. It is not known what caused this. She did not enter the site, but stood at one of the barricaded entrances.