Pro-Palestinian students evicted by police from occupied ULB building
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Students who have occupied a building on the Solbosch campus of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) since early May in support of the Palestinian people were evicted from the premises on Tuesday morning by police, the ULB confirmed.
At around 6.30, videos started circulating on social media of the eviction. Students are protesting against Israel's actions in Gaza and urging the ULB management to break off all forms of collaboration with "Zionist academic institutions and companies participating in the oppression of the Palestinian people".
In the videos, showing a large number of police officers urging the students to leave, the occupiers called for people to come and support them. At around 8.30, the premises had been completely evacuated. However, around 40 students gathered in front of the building and spoke of a violent eviction. Around 10 police officers lined up in front of the building's entrance and technicians barricaded the windows.
Last week, ULB rector Annemie Schaus called on the occupiers to vacate the building as soon as possible, saying the movement was no longer in line with the ideals that motivated it. Several actions have resulted in violence, graffiti and damage. On Friday, however, the students announced that they would be extending their action until their demands had been fully met.
At the end of May, the university management announced that it was suspending any institutional research agreement or project involving an Israeli university until there is a clear commitment from those universities “in favour of the demands issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 24 May".
The expulsion of students occupying a building on the Solbosch campus of the ULB © BELGA PHOTO JASMINE MAZUIN
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