Pro-Palestinian Protest at University of Kassel Sparks Controversy

Demonstrators chant anti-Israel slogans, prompting criticism from officials and concerns over campus safety.

Approximately 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at the University of Kassel, chanting the controversial slogan 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.'
The protest was organized by the Yousef Shaban alliance, named after a student who died in Gaza, and coincided with a smaller counter-protest by the Jewish Student Association.
Hessian officials, including the state's antisemitism commissioner, criticized the demonstration for potentially denying Israel's right to exist and spreading extremist views.
The university emphasized its commitment to free speech but urged demonstrators to avoid discrimination and intimidation, while the city of Kassel deemed the protest legal.
The protest reflects broader tensions in Germany related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with recent incidents highlighting a challenging climate for Jewish communities.