In a pre-dawn crackdown, hundreds of heavily equipped police officers moved into a central plaza at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to dismantle a pro-Palestinian protest camp. 

The raid came just a day after the camp was attacked by pro-Israel supporters, highlighting the escalating tensions on U.S. college campuses over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The police action, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning, resulted in the arrest of several protesters who were seen kneeling on the ground with their hands bound behind their backs. 

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• Police dismantle pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA amid escalating tensions on U.S. college campuses.

• Violent clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel supporters preceded the pre-dawn police crackdown.

• Protests and arrests at multiple universities highlight the far-reaching impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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California Police Dismantle Pro-Palestinian Protest Camp at UCLA Amid Mounting Tensions

The officers used flash-bang charges, or stun grenades, to disperse the demonstrators who attempted to block their advance with makeshift shields and umbrellas.

Prior to the crackdown, the university had declared the encampment unlawful, and police repeatedly urged the protesters to clear the area via loudspeaker announcements. 

The raid was led by a phalanx of California Highway Patrol officers carrying shields and batons, who were later joined by reinforcements from the Los Angeles Police Department.

The protest camp, which had been set up last week, was largely peaceful until a violent clash erupted between the occupants and a group of masked counter-demonstrators on Tuesday night. 

Both sides engaged in physical altercations and used pepper spray, with the pro-Palestinian group claiming they were attacked with fireworks, bats, and sticks.

The confrontation lasted for several hours before police restored order, but the response from campus law enforcement was criticized as “limited and delayed” by a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom. 

As a result, UCLA canceled classes for Wednesday and remained closed except for limited operations on Thursday and Friday.

The UCLA protests are part of a broader wave of student activism across the US, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging schools to divest from companies that support Israel’s government. 

The pro-Palestinian side, which includes Jews opposed to Israeli actions in Gaza, maintains that they are being unfairly branded as antisemitic for criticizing Israel’s government and expressing support for human rights. 

On the other hand, counter-protesters have accused pro-Palestinian activists of promoting anti-Jewish hatred.

The issue has taken on political significance in the run-up to the November presidential election, with Republicans accusing some university administrators of tolerating antisemitic rhetoric and harassment. 

The clashes at UCLA and other universities, such as Columbia University and Dartmouth University, where police have made numerous arrests, represent the most significant student activism since the anti-racism rallies and marches of 2020.

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