New York Police Raid Columbia University, Germany Can Still Send Weapons to Israel

US police tactics are similar to police tactics in several countries when attacking protesters.

AFP/TIMOTHY A CLARY

Police arrested protesters at Columbia University, New York, United States, on Tuesday (30/4/2024) evening.

NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY — With the approval of the Chancellor of Columbia University, New York Police raided protesters on campus. Police arrest protesters demanding an end to war Gaza and campus cooperation with Israel. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice refused to ban arms supplies from Germany to Israel.

The New York Police Department entered the Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on Tuesday night (April 30, 2024) or Wednesday morning local time. Carrying batons, shields, and stun grenades, they stormed the building occupied by protesters since Monday night.

Also read: China: Fatah-Hamas Ready for Reconciliation

The New York Police Department denies using tear gas in the raid at Columbia University. The police only admitted to using stun grenades. The grenade emitted a deafening sound and a blinding light.

They sent the police to raid our students. The lecturers were shocked.

The police arrived just before 21.00. At around 23.00, they started coming out carrying students with their hands tied behind their backs.

AFP/MICHAEL M SANTIAGO

Police arrested protesters at Columbia University, New York, United States, on Tuesday (30/4/2024) evening.

At least 100 people were arrested from the hall and around the building. The police entered from the second floor of the building and then stormed inside. A number of windows were broken before the police started entering.

"It's incomprehensible. They sent police to raid our students. The professors were shocked. Although we suspected this would happen," said sociology professor at Columbia University, Debbie Becher.

Also read: US Campuses Begin Suspension of Pro-Palestinian Protesting Students

He mentioned that the university's rectorate and deans have been suppressing the freedom of expression of students and academic communities for six months. Many lecturers support the majority of student protesters on campus. "We support dialogue and freedom of expression because higher education institutions should behave that way," he said.

The association of American lecturers at Columbia University has repeatedly encouraged the rectorate to engage in dialogue with protesters. However, Columbia University's statute requires such a dialogue. Even the university senate has condemned Columbia University Rector Minouche Shafik. Shafik is accused of suppressing freedom of speech on campus.

AFP/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

Demonstration by Palestinian supporters at Columbia University, New York, United States, on Sunday (28/4/2024).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, labeled the actions of the US police as excessive. "The university has a strong and historic tradition of student activism, lively debates, and freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The exercise of legitimate freedom of expression cannot be equated with incitement to violence and hatred," he said.

On the other hand, he emphasized that hate speech against other groups is not acceptable in any situation. Antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, or anti-Arab behavior are all equally unacceptable.

Campus permission

On Tuesday morning, the New York Police Department stated that they would not enter the campus without permission from the rectory. In an official statement from the campus, it was stated that the rectory allowed the police to enter the campus. Shafik's letter to the police indicated that they could be on campus until May 17th, 2024. Shafik asked the police to assist in restoring campus order.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/MICHAEL M SANTIAGO

Demonstration in support of Palestine at New York University, United States, on April 22 2024.

The campus accuses the protesters of disrupting order and the smoothness of lectures. On Monday afternoon, the rectorate threatened to suspend the protesters who were still persistent. On Tuesday night, the police raided the campus.

The raid on Columbia University adds to the growing list of forced dissolution of protests against the Gaza war on US campuses. In all of these dissolutions, the police stormed the campus and arrested students. The tactics used by the US police are similar to those used by police in some countries when raiding protesters.

Also read: Pro-Palestinian Student Movement at Columbia University Spreads to Melbourne

US politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, have condemned the anti-war protests. Even President Joe Biden called the protests at Columbia University and other universities unjustified. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, referred to the protesters as criminals.

Several netizens have stated that the condition at Columbia University resembles the atmosphere of the Vietnam War protests several decades ago. Back then, the police also raided several campuses that were locations of anti-war protests.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/MICHAEL M SANTIAGO

Demonstration in support of Palestine at New York University, United States, on April 22 2024.

Apparatus from a number of law enforcement agencies also infiltrated the protesters. Some aim to identify and then arrest the leaders of the demonstration. Others aim to provoke protesters so they can riot so they can be dispersed.

Weapons supply

From the Netherlands, it was reported that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) refused to give an interim decision regarding the supply of weapons from Germany to Israel. The decision was requested by Nicaragua. This is because the supply of weapons from Germany is considered to contribute to the deaths of 34,000 Gaza residents and injuries to nearly 80,000 people.

Also read: International Criminal Court's Test of Courage to Ensnare Netanyahu

Nicaragua is asking the ICJ to order Germany to stop supplying weapons to Israel. The supply is considered a violation of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law. Germany is also asked to provide funding again to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The representative of Germany at the ICJ, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, welcomed the decision of the World Court. "We comply with international law and will continue to do so in the future," she said.

AFP/REMKO DE WAAL/ANP

The Chief Judge of the International Criminal Court, Nawaf Salam (center), during the hearing of Nicaragua's lawsuit against Germany on Tuesday (30/4/2024), in The Hague, Netherlands.

Pro-Palestine protesters outside the International Court expressed their disappointment with the decision. "I am concerned that this decision will have an impact on other European countries and other countries around the world. They are still supplying weapons to Israel," said Melanie Uittenbosch, one of the Palestinian supporters in the crowd. (AFP/REUTERS/AP)