Israel-Palestine

Since the Gaza war broke out, a group of demonstrators (including students) has been demanding that Maastricht University cut its ties with Israeli institutions. On October 31, 2025, the Executive Board decided to suspend the strategic partnership with its only institutional partner in Israel, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Calling the police on occupiers? UM legal experts draw up guidelines
News

Calling the police on occupiers? UM legal experts draw up guidelines

Report following “disproportionate” eviction of UCM occupiers
Opinion: Students Are Not a Security Threat 
Opinion article

Opinion: Students Are Not a Security Threat 

"We call for accountability for the failure to prevent an escalation of violence"
Activists arrested after occupation; Public Prosecution Service to investigate
News

Activists arrested after occupation; Public Prosecution Service to investigate

There are “signs” they entered Scannexus
UPDATE Occupation of university building brought to an end
News

UPDATE Occupation of university building brought to an end

The Executive Board "regrets" the evacuation, but says there was “no other option” to “ensure safety”
“They said, ‘We’ve done enough talking.’ Well, certainly not with me”
Interview

“They said, ‘We’ve done enough talking.’ Well, certainly not with me”

A farewell interview with Jan Smits, dean of the Faculty of Law
Letschert: “When it comes to people stabbing you in the back or questioning your integrity – no, I don’t have thick skin”
Interview

Letschert: “When it comes to people stabbing you in the back or questioning your integrity – no, I don’t have thick skin”

Maastricht University’s leader for nearly a decade: a farewell interview with Rianne Letschert
Pro-Palestinian students briefly occupy FASoS room for teach-in
News

Pro-Palestinian students briefly occupy FASoS room for teach-in

Meeting moved to another room after consultation with university
Opinion: Institutional responsibility in times of injustice
Opinion article

Opinion: Institutional responsibility in times of injustice

"UM's decision to end the collaboration with the Hebrew University stemmed from the ethical awareness of students and staff, and from practising academic citizenship"
“Collaboration with the Hebrew University could not continue in its current form”
Interview

“Collaboration with the Hebrew University could not continue in its current form”

Chair UM Human Rights Committee on advice to Executive Board
Maastricht University to cut ties with Hebrew University
News

Maastricht University to cut ties with Hebrew University

UM-President Letschert: “We have different views on working with the army”
Opening of the academic year marked by protests against Schoof, budget cuts and the Gaza war – but not in Maastricht
News

Opening of the academic year marked by protests against Schoof, budget cuts and the Gaza war – but not in Maastricht

UM ceremony focused on educational innovation
Facade Law Faculty smeared with red paint
News

Facade Law Faculty smeared with red paint

Police are investigating the case
Opinions on police divided: “Disproportionate” or “understandable”
Background

Opinions on police divided: “Disproportionate” or “understandable”

What do students and staff think of the police intervention against pro-Palestinian protesters?
‘Respect for law’ also signed by Maastricht legal scientists
News

‘Respect for law’ also signed by Maastricht legal scientists

Open letter from legal experts to Prime Minister Schoof: ‘Speak “frankly” about Israel’s actions’
“Disruption to Rawan Osman’s lecture could have been prevented”
News

“Disruption to Rawan Osman’s lecture could have been prevented”

Evening should have been better prepared, says Maastricht rector
First time police have been deployed against pro-Palestinian protesters at Maastricht University
News

First time police have been deployed against pro-Palestinian protesters at Maastricht University

Live blog closed
Universities getting more pressure over their statements about collaborations with Israel
Background

Universities getting more pressure over their statements about collaborations with Israel

Over the past year, several universities have attempted to establish a dialogue with protesters, but these talks have not gotten off the ground
University board moves cautiously about Palestine protests
Analysis

University board moves cautiously about Palestine protests

An analysis: the Israel-Palestine conflict on Maastricht’s university premises
Lecturer and students filmed each other, council member raises questions
News

Lecturer and students filmed each other, council member raises questions

Pro-Palestinian protest march leads to discussion in faculty council FASoS
Board “reluctantly” cancels guest lecture by Jewish activist
News

Board “reluctantly” cancels guest lecture by Jewish activist

University “very cautious” with guest lecturers on Gaza and Israel
UPDATE Protesters block several university buildings downtown
News

UPDATE Protesters block several university buildings downtown

University must sever ties with Israel, protesters demand
Noisy pro-Palestinian protest march comes to vitriolic end in FASoS garden
News

Noisy pro-Palestinian protest march comes to vitriolic end in FASoS garden

Protesters: “We don’t want no Zionists here." Lecturer: "That's hate speech”
“Speaking the truth is the only weapon we have left”
Background

“Speaking the truth is the only weapon we have left”

Palestinian journalist speaks at Tapijn as part of the Safe Haven Fellowship Programme
Municipality: pro-Palestinian protesters did not register demonstration on time
News

Municipality: pro-Palestinian protesters did not register demonstration on time

Tapijn Z was wrong place for Rawan Osman’s lecture, says mayor
Questions in municipal council about disrupted lecture in Tapijn Z
News

Questions in municipal council about disrupted lecture in Tapijn Z

If necessary, limit right to protest, say six parties
UM: Disruption lecture is “sad and unacceptable”
News

UM: Disruption lecture is “sad and unacceptable”

University considers action against protesters
Demonstrating students disrupt pro-Israel lecture at Tapijn
News

Demonstrating students disrupt pro-Israel lecture at Tapijn

Demonstrations inside and outside Building Z
“This university is adding fuel to the fire”
Background

“This university is adding fuel to the fire”

University Council discusses 'Human Rights Due Diligence tool'
Opinion article

"University Council, protect academic freedom"

Criticism of new Human Rights Due Diligence Framework
Committee to determine which partner institutions have clean hands
News

Committee to determine which partner institutions have clean hands

University Council is set to discuss the new Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)-framework
“As universities, we failed by boycotting Russia too quickly”
Background

“As universities, we failed by boycotting Russia too quickly”

Panel discussion about academic freedom and universities’ moral compass
New calls for boycott of Israeli universities 
News

New calls for boycott of Israeli universities 

Free Palestine Maastricht: “Does the university want these partners?”
“Be careful that cutting ties doesn’t have any unintended consequences”
Interview

“Be careful that cutting ties doesn’t have any unintended consequences”

Science, technology and society studies scholar on the HRDD tool
Pro-Palestinian protesters march past UM buildings in city centre
News

Pro-Palestinian protesters march past UM buildings in city centre

Some sixty people take part in walk-out
FPN informs Faculty Council about ties with Israel
News

FPN informs Faculty Council about ties with Israel

UPDATE: Faculty council decides to discuss document confidentially after all
Super difficult, such a discussion between protesters and administrators
Background

Super difficult, such a discussion between protesters and administrators

“There are many attempts to organise gatherings, debates and dialogues. And sometimes they get stuck”
How is the new Minister of Education going to react to Gaza protests?
News

How is the new Minister of Education going to react to Gaza protests?

Bruins appears to be intent on protecting the institutions for interference by worked-up MPs
In defence of the open letter
Opinion article

In defence of the open letter

"We must foster open discussion, but only on the basis of logically sound arguments and grammatically correct sentences"
Security guard exhibited unacceptable behaviour, say demonstrators
News

Security guard exhibited unacceptable behaviour, say demonstrators

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupt FPN jubilee gala
University buildings daubed with pro-Palestinian slogans again
News

University buildings daubed with pro-Palestinian slogans again

Maastricht University files charges
Opinion article

"How twisted are your logic if not your morals"

Israeli student reacts to the open letter 121 Maastricht scientists recently sent to the Executive Board
Universities don’t want to close door to Israel, rectors write
News

Universities don’t want to close door to Israel, rectors write

“We find it important not to isolate critical Israeli academics, just as much as we are committed to supporting our Palestinian colleagues”
“Suspend ties with Israeli institutes involved in genocide”
News

“Suspend ties with Israeli institutes involved in genocide”

In an open letter, UM scientists argue for “more drastic measures”
Waiting, waiting and more waiting
Editorial

Waiting, waiting and more waiting

The print version of Observant was already outdated by the time it hit the university newspaper racks
Liveblog ended
News

Liveblog ended

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UM
Letschert on ended tent camp at FASoS:
Background

Letschert on ended tent camp at FASoS: "It had to stop"

According to UM, the protesters left voluntarily; the students say otherwise
“Media out”
Editorial

“Media out”

Our repeated requests for comments are not always successful
Cut ties with Israel? The education minister warns against it
News

Cut ties with Israel? The education minister warns against it

“Those universities are home to the biggest critics of the Israeli government”
Underlying evidence for the activists' demand
Opinion article

Underlying evidence for the activists' demand

"It is unclear what ending the war has to do with cooperation with people from Israel"
Prison sentence for violence during UvA protests
News

Prison sentence for violence during UvA protests

Demonstrations in The Hague and Nijmegen are leading to new occupations
Background

"I’m glad they’re taking action. Why did it take so long?”

Staff respond to the student protest
New protest directive contains few red lines
News

New protest directive contains few red lines

The tone is calm: “Knowledge and critical voices are the beating heart of higher education institutions"
Pro-Palestinian protest: the demands, the violence and the damage
News

Pro-Palestinian protest: the demands, the violence and the damage

Last Monday: At 11 AM students and staff stopped what they were doing and left their respective buildings
Pro-Palestine protesters set up tent camp in FASoS garden
News

Pro-Palestine protesters set up tent camp in FASoS garden

UM President Letschert negotiates with students and staff
Maastricht also joins national walkout to support pro-Palestinian protest
News

Maastricht also joins national walkout to support pro-Palestinian protest

A hundred students and staff
Police break up tent camp at University of Amsterdam; 125 protesters arrested
News

Police break up tent camp at University of Amsterdam; 125 protesters arrested

“Demonstrations are allowed at the UvA, within the context of the house rules”
“I’m angry and afraid; I look over my shoulder when I step outside”
Interview

“I’m angry and afraid; I look over my shoulder when I step outside”

Part of the Jewish students at Maastricht University feel threatened
Genocide in Gaza? Hard to prove, say Maastricht lawyers
News

Genocide in Gaza? Hard to prove, say Maastricht lawyers

Studium Generale's first substantive meeting on Gaza war goes off peacefully
“How do you guarantee that nobody’s feelings will be hurt?”
Background

“How do you guarantee that nobody’s feelings will be hurt?”

Cancellation of Palestine-Israel ‘dialogue table’ discussed in U-council meeting