Utrecht students protest Israeli apartheid during Palestine week

Students of Utrecht University show their support by occupying the university building for multiple days

More protests are scheduled to take place during the week dedicated to the Palestinian struggle

Students at Utrecht University in the Netherlands have occupied a university building to protest Israeli apartheid. The occupation began on Monday, March 7, and is part of a week of protests organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee Utrecht (PSCU)."

The PSCU is a student organization that advocates for the rights of the Palestinian people. The group's mission is to raise awareness about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and to promote solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The occupation of the university building is one of several protests that the PSCU has organized during Palestine week. Other protests have included a march through the city of Utrecht and a rally outside the Israeli embassy in The Hague.

The students involved in the occupation say that they are protesting the Israeli government's policies of apartheid, which they say are designed to keep the Palestinian people in a state of oppression.

On the first day of occupation, a delegation of students delivered a letter to the university's rector, emphasizing their concerns and objectives, and demanding that the institution take a stance against Israeli apartheid and acknowledge its duty to uphold international human rights. They also highlighted famous precedents of academic institutions taking action against apartheid regimes, emphasizing the academic community's moral responsibility to confront injustice.

The occupation of the University building has made a ripple effect. Students from other universities in the Netherlands have shown interest in replicating the action, aiming to bolster the movement and spread awareness about the cause. Additionally, several Dutch organizations have reached out to the PSCU to offer support and solidarity with their protest against the Israeli apartheid system.