Pro-Palestinian activists are occupying rooms at Berlin’s Humboldt University. The university administration is tolerating this for now – and is relying on discussion.
Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin’s Humboldt University (HU) in protest against Israel and in support of Palestinians. They are allowed to continue their protest until Thursday evening, and there will also be a discussion session. The university executive board and the occupiers agreed on this after a conversation that lasted more than two hours. The police secured the university building, where around 50 activists occupied several rooms. On the street in front, another 250 to 300 young people demonstrated with loud slogans.
The conflict in the Middle East has now reached German universities. There are repeated protests against Israel’s actions in the Gaza war and student actions to show solidarity with the Palestinians. An occupation at the Free University of Berlin a few weeks ago was broken up by the police.
The occupiers of the group called Student Coalition Berlin accused Israel of “genocide” and “ongoing mass murders” in a statement. It’s about “unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people.” They called on the HU to accept their occupation and presence and to prohibit police intervention.
HU President Julia von Blumenthal said that the occupation of rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences would be permitted until 6 p.m. on Thursday. “We expect the occupiers to leave the building peacefully after that.” In addition, a discussion event will be organized in the afternoon beforehand (from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.), in which the presidium and scientists will participate alongside the activists.
No further damage to property agreed
There are also clear agreements that there should be no further damage to property and that no other people should be allowed into the building overnight, said von Blumenthal. The activists had smeared walls. The courses are to be held digitally.
A police spokeswoman said that certain measures restricting freedom were taken during the demonstration in front of the university building. She was initially unable to provide any figures. The police had secured any forbidden slogans that had been shouted. “The appropriate criminal charges will then be filed.”
After Hamas’s unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, more than 35,000 Palestinians died in the Gaza war that followed, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, although the number, which is difficult to independently verify, does not distinguish between civilians and fighters .
Source: Stern
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