Sciences Po Students Take a Stand for Palestine: Protests and Calls for Change Amid Violence in Gaza

Last Friday, students at Paris’s prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) staged a protest blocking access to the campus in solidarity with Palestine during Israel’s war on Gaza. The protesters demanded that the institution condemn Israel’s actions, following similar demonstrations at universities and colleges in the United States.

Hicham, a 22-year-old master’s student in human rights and humanitarian studies at Sciences Po, emphasized the importance of the academic community taking a stand against Israel’s actions. He explained that “We cannot remain silent while innocent people suffer and their basic rights are violated.”

Zoe, a 20-year-old master’s student in public administration, expressed joy at the increasing mobilization of students at various universities and hoped for widespread support until the violence in Gaza ceases. She said “It is our duty as students to speak up and demand change.”

However, Sciences Po officials did not respond to requests for comment, and police reportedly removed a group of students blocking access to the campus earlier in the week. This action was met with criticism from left-wing politicians who supported the students’ right to protest and called for further solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Despite this setback, the students at Sciences Po remained determined to continue their protest until they see an end to the violence in Gaza, hoping for broader mobilization across universities and beyond. They believe that their actions will have an impact on both Israel and Palestine and that it is essential to take a stand against oppression wherever it exists.