Harsh Verdict: Pro-Palestinian Protester Sentenced to Two Months in Prison in Amsterdam

An Amsterdam court has sentenced a pro-Palestinian protester to two months in prison, with one month suspended and a two-year probation, for violence during a demonstration at the University of Amsterdam last year. The sentence was lighter than the four months (two suspended) requested by the public prosecutor.

The defendant, who was absent from court, admitted to climbing a shovel and throwing a stick but argued that it did not constitute serious violence since the police were well protected.

The judge disagreed, ruling that attacking police, regardless of their protection, remains a crime. The protester faced charges of public violence during the May 8, 2024, demonstrations in central Amsterdam.

Another protester received 60 hours of community service for throwing a plastic water bottle, while a third, accused of throwing stones and liquid-filled balloons, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The protests, which escalated into clashes with police using shovels to dismantle barricades, saw demonstrators hurling objects and demanding the university cut ties with Israeli institutions accused of oppression, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine. Activists have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met.