Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 100 activists protested at Ghent University’s UFO building, demanding a boycott of Israel. Rector Petra De Sutter addressed Gaza concerns, while police controlled tensions with NSV.
As VRT News reported, the academic year at Ghent University opened with protests at the UFO building. Around 100 activists, including students and staff, gathered to demand a full boycott of Israel. They accused the university of being complicit in violence in Gaza by keeping links with Israeli institutions and companies.
At the same time, Petra De Sutter officially took over as rector from Rik Van de Walle. This took place behind closed doors after advice from the police. Last year, the opening procession was cancelled after violent demonstrations, and authorities wanted to avoid a repeat of those incidents.
“We want Ghent University to keep its promise. Statements were made about this over a year ago,”
says activist Bas.
“The collaborations will continue. This makes Ghent University de facto complicit in the genocide in Gaza.”
What drives Ghent University protesters to demand an Israel boycott?
The protest also drew a counter-action from members of the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV). The right-wing student group tried to show a banner but was surrounded by other activists shouting anti-fascist slogans.
After half an hour, the NSV members left under pressure from the police. The activists said symbolic steps are not enough and demanded that the university cut all ties with Israeli partners.
Rector Petra De Sutter said she takes the demands of the activists seriously. She explained that the university cannot stay silent about the situation in Gaza. During the opening ceremony, she promised to speak about the fear and horror felt by many.
“We are outraged,”
she said, while adding that the university wants to keep the discussion going and examine how it could end cooperation with Israeli institutions.
“We are already going further than all other Flemish universities,”
Petra De Sutter stated earlier.
“This will be on the agenda of the Board of Directors again.”
De Sutter also takes the position of former rector Rik Van de Walle, who argued that if he were to support universities, they would first need European support to act. It indeed centres on the European research programme, Horizon Europe, which connects universities and research institutes throughout the continent, including Israel.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has already proposed the suspension of the deal as a sanction, and if it happens, it would allow universities to cease cooperation with their Israeli partners without the danger of losing funding or being liable for breaching a contract. So far, there is no agreement among EU member states.
Following the war in Gaza that commenced in October 2023, protests at Ghent University against collaboration with Israeli institutions grew. In November 2023, hundreds of students and staff signed petitions for a full academic boycott. Demonstrations then materialised in a public manner and interrupted several university functions.
Tension escalated again in September 2024 when clashes with activists halted the official opening of the academic year and disrupted the formal procession. Since then, the issue has remained in circulation on Belgian campuses, while European institutions in Brussels have yet to come to a consensus on sanctions against Israel.
