Stanford students arrested during pro-Palestinian protests

(Patria) - More than ten people were arrested on Wednesday at Stanford University in California after pro-Palestinian student demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the building housing the school president's office, Reuters reports.

Approximately ten students entered the building around 5:30 AM on the last day of classes for the spring quarter, according to student newspaper The Stanford Daily, while about fifty students linked hands and surrounded the building, chanting: "Free, free Palestine."

In an Instagram post, the group Liberate Stanford said an "autonomous group of students" had occupied the office of university president Richard Saler. Among other demands, the students called on the school to divest from companies linked to the Israeli war in Gaza.

Police used a crowbar to enter the building about two hours after the demonstration began, according to the Stanford Daily.

A statement from the school said thirteen people were arrested for unlawfully entering the building.

"There has been significant damage to the interior and exterior of the building and there will be no entry into the building for the remainder of the day," the university stated.

Among those arrested was a reporter for the Stanford Daily, the paper reported.

Hundreds of students have been arrested in recent months for demonstrating, setting up encampments, and in some cases occupying buildings to protest Israel's assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians. Israel's campaign began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.