(JTA) — Police in Amsterdam issued a warning to steer clear of a canal and main street in the city center due to escalating violence during an operation to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment on Wednesday.
Rioters hurled ammonia, a harmful substance that can cause permanent damage to eyesight, at police officers who were attempting to clear the encampment, according to a tweet from Amsterdam’s police on Wednesday, with the police urging everyone to disperse and go home to prevent further violence.
Footage broadcasted on Dutch news platforms depicted police officers in riot gear pushing back against protesters wearing Palestinian scarves. In one instance, three police officers had to intervene to remove a woman from an earth mover used to clear the encampment.
The clashes occurred following a police raid on an encampment at the University of Amsterdam, which is part of a trend seen in several European universities where pro-Palestinian demonstrations have emerged, mirroring similar protests that have taken place on American campuses in recent weeks. The protesters are calling for the universities to sever ties with Israel and its affiliated institutions.
Videos have surfaced showing pro-Palestinian protesters physically attacking pro-Israel counter-protesters with wooden planks at the university.
Earlier in March, pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested the presence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the inauguration of the country’s new National Holocaust Museum.