The ongoing student protests demanding that universities cut ties with Israel over the Gaza war have spread across Europe, resulting in clashes and arrests as new protests broke out in Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria.

The protesting students at various European universities, inspired by ongoing demonstrations at US campuses, have been occupying halls and facilities, demanding an end to partnerships with Israeli institutions because of assault on Gaza.

Early on Tuesday (May 8), Israel launched a major military offensive against Hamas forces in Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought shelter currently.

On the other hand, the United States halted the delivery of bombs to Israel due to concerns that it was planning to launch a full-scale attack on Rafah.

According to Dutch police, 169 people had been arrested on Monday (May 6) when they broke up an encampment at the University of Amsterdam. Police were seen baton-charging protesters and smashing up their tents.

Hundreds of protesters calling for a ceasefire resumed the demonstration on Tuesday evening around the university campus amid a heavy police presence.

As per the police, a pro-Israeli counter-protest involving about 40 people also took place in the area. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against 13 people.

Earlier at Berlin’s Free University, police cleared a protest where protesters wore the keffiyeh scarf that has long been a symbol of the Palestinian cause.

When they protesters tried to enter rooms and lecture halls to occupy them, the university then called in the police to clear the protesters.

The university said in a statement that the property was damaged while classes in some buildings were suspended for the day.

Police on Tuesday twice intervened at Paris’s Sciences Po university to disperse about 20 students who had locked themselves in the university’s main hall.

Police intervened to let other students take their exams and also made two arrests, according to Paris prosecutors. The university said the exams were able to proceed without any arrests.

While at a nearby Sorbonne university building, police had remove about a hundred students who had occupied an amphitheatre for hours to protest against the war.

Protests spread to three universities in Lausanne Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday.

The University of Lausanne said in a statement that it “considers that there is no reason to cease these relations” with Israeli universities, as protesters demand.

Dozens of protesters were protesting in Vienna University, putting up tents and holding up banners and calling out for ceasefire.

More than 100 students occupied Ghent University, in Belgium, in both a climate and a Gaza protest.

However, protests were reported at various universities in other European countries including Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Clashes also broke out between police and protesters during a pro-Palestinian rally in central Athens. More than 300 people carrying Palestinian flags and banners rallied outside the parliament building in the Greek capital.

(With inputs from agencies)