Palestine supporters take over Humboldt University.
At Humboldt University in Berlin, pro-Palestinian protesters have taken over some rooms, urging for a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel. The police have cordoned off certain parts of the building, and the protesters have agreed to talk with the university administration to find a peaceful solution.
According to reports, around 50 protesters have occupied rooms within the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University since the afternoon. Meanwhile, around 250-300 demonstrators gathered outside the building. The police have confirmed that they are working closely with the university.
Humboldt University's Presidential Board has reached out to the protesters to engage in talks. A university spokeswoman confirmed that the occupiers have accepted the invitation for dialogue. The intention is to have the protesters vacate the premises voluntarily and avoid any forced eviction.
In a message sent to students and staff at the institute, management is requesting that they avoid coming to the institute tomorrow. They are advised to work remotely, postpone classes to Zoom, and inform students about the situation. The institute administration is in constant contact with the President's Office and the Dean's Office.
The protesters, identified as the Student Coalition, have criticized Israel for committing "genocide" and "continuous mass killings" and are calling for "unconditional support for the Palestinian people." The group also pressured the university to impose a complete academic and cultural ban on Israel. They expect the university to recognize their presence, and ban any police intervention.
Humboldt-Universität is one of the key academic institutions in the German capital, along with Freie Universität (FU) and Technische Universität (TU). In recent times, pro-Palestinian demonstrations -including some setting up camps- have also taken place at universities in Berlin. The Student Coalition of Berlin recently occupied rooms at Freie Universität, which was subsequently cleared by the police.
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Source: www.ntv.de
