Activists Demand Universities Cut Ties with Israel: Locked doors and Funding Controversies-Education or Complicity?
On Tuesday morning, Utrecht University staff were advised to work from home after pro-Palestine activists chained themselves to all entrances of the administration building, blocking access in a bold act of protest.
Their demand is clear: the university must sever ties with Israeli partners and support the upcoming staff strike against planned cuts to higher education funding on March 11.
The demonstration was a powerful statement against financial deprivation in education, while a steady budget continues to fund collaborations with Israeli institutions—partnerships that activists argue indirectly support Israeli crimes.
The protest began at 10:00 AM, drawing around 50 participants who remained in place for over four hours before dispersing. However, the building remained closed.
Itai van der Wal, a spokesperson for the activists, stated that the protest was a response to the university’s silence following the ceasefire in Israel.
He stressed that collaborating with Israeli universities indirectly enables genocide. He also criticized the university board for its contradictions—publicly opposing budget cuts while actively planning reductions. This year, activists are making their stance clear: they stand in solidarity with the striking staff, demanding justice and an end to complicity.
