Around fifty activists had taken over the building on the morning of Monday 29 April, but were forced to leave when the police intervened. Gathered on rue de la Sorbonne, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, the demonstrators unfurled a large flag decorated with fake bloodstains and began chanting slogans in support of the Palestinian cause. Around midday, they entered the university’s inner courtyard

In the early afternoon, at Gabriel Attal’s request, the fifty or so activists were finally evacuated by the police. The students responded to the call to demonstrate by the Coordination des comités pour la Palestine de Paris 1 et la Sorbonne, some even setting up tents on the ground to occupy the premises.

Despite their evacuation, the demonstration continued in the street. The demonstrators demanded an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to the repression of Palestinian activists, including members of parliament, trade unionists and students. They also denounced the continuing partnerships between French and Israeli universities, despite the bombing of universities in Gaza.

Lorelia Frejo, a student and spokeswoman for the Le poing levé association, said that no discussion had taken place with the management on this subject, and denounced the intervention of police officers inside the university without a warning. She also rejected the accusations of anti-Semitism, describing them as being exploited by the right and the far right.

Insoumis MPs Thomas Portes and Louis Boyard were present on the outskirts of the Sorbonne from the start of the protest, expressing their support for the young demonstrators and criticising the French government’s inaction in the face of the conflict. The Paris education authority has announced the postponement of all courses and exams scheduled for the afternoon at the Sorbonne because of the demonstration.