In the last two weeks, pro-Palestinian protesters in Australia have been rallying on university campuses in major cities, calling for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They are demanding that universities cut ties with Israel and suspend research partnerships with weapons manufacturers. Unlike other countries, there have been no reported arrests for violence at these protests in Australia.
On Friday, tensions boiled over at the University of Sydney as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters clashed. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported on the confrontation between the two groups, but security personnel were able to intervene and prevent further escalation. The vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, emphasized the importance of peaceful protesting and allowing both sides to express their opinions without violence.
Scott noted that not all protesters were students and some may not be fully committed to peaceful participation. He assured that the university is working closely with security and police to ensure everyone’s safety during the protests. Despite tensions running high, the situation in Australia has not escalated to the level of violence seen on some American campuses.
