Dutch Police Use Batons Against Pro-Palestinian Protesters at University of Amsterdam

Tensions flared in the Netherlands as Dutch police clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Amsterdam, with video footage showing officers using batons to disperse students and activists during a campus protest.

The confrontation took place on Monday evening after students gathered on university grounds to voice their solidarity with Palestinians and call for increased support for the people of Gaza, amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. Protesters were also demanding that the university cut ties with institutions they allege are complicit in the Israeli government's actions.

Eyewitness videos circulating online show riot police advancing on a group of peaceful demonstrators, striking some with batons as they attempted to hold their ground. Some students were seen being pushed or dragged as police cleared the area. The aggressive response has sparked criticism from human rights advocates and student organizations, who argue that the force used was excessive and unwarranted.

“We came here to stand up for justice, for peace, and to raise our voices for Palestinians who have no voice,” said one student protester. “Instead of listening, they sent in the police.”

Authorities have defended the use of force, claiming that the protest was unauthorized and posed a threat to public safety. In a statement, the Amsterdam police said they intervened after the demonstration allegedly escalated and protesters refused to leave the premises when asked.

University officials have yet to release a formal statement but are reportedly reviewing the incident, while discussions among student groups and faculty members about freedom of expression and peaceful assembly continue to grow.

The protest is part of a wave of similar student-led demonstrations across Europe and North America, where calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and greater institutional accountability have been gaining momentum. Protesters argue that international support and humanitarian aid must be urgently ramped up to help Palestinians facing mounting civilian casualties and displacement.

As debates over academic complicity, freedom of speech, and solidarity with Palestine intensify, the events in Amsterdam have added to growing global scrutiny of how authorities and institutions are responding to the voices of concerned citizens—especially young people—demanding justice for Palestinians.