Pro-Palestinian Protest at ETH Zurich Sparks Controversy

According to ETH information, around 100 people from pro-Palestinian, Marxist groups gathered in the main hall of the main building of ETH Zurich at around 11.30 am

“Students for Palestine”

They drew attention to their concerns with a sit-in that did not affect access to university. A group called “Students for Palestine (Zurich)” wrote on Instagram that people were living in the main hall.

Call for “academic boycott”

Among other things, the group asked ETH Zurich to “take a clear stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza”. She also called on the university to, among other things, conduct an “academic boycott” of Israeli institutions and companies that support the Israeli government.

In the main hall, protesters chanted “Free Palestine!” On the ground they put out a poster with the slogan “No Tech for Genocide.”

Conversations yes, activity no

ETH Zurich sees itself as a place where different ideas and perspectives can and should be expressed openly, the university said in a statement on the sit-in strike. However, she does not accept unauthorized activities – her rooms are not available for political activities.

A short announcement from the city police

Zurich municipal police gave the demonstrators a brief deadline after noon to leave the main hall alone. However, some of the people remained seated, as the police later announced. The management of ETH filed a criminal complaint against those who remained for committing a crime.

As a result, the city police, with the support of the cantonal police, investigated a total of 28 people. She rejected them and reported them. According to the police, some of the protesters were offering passive resistance; they had to get him out of the building.

Are they members of the university?

Police were initially unable to provide further details about those reported – such as age or origin. ETH Zurich also indicated in its statement that it was unclear whether members of the university were among those expelled.