Pro-Palestinian protesters barricade themselves inside Stanford University president’s office

Pro-Palestinian protesters took over the president’s office at Stanford University on Wednesday, the latest provocative campus action calling for divestment from Israel in the wake of the country’s war with Hamas.

Students and alumni entered president Richard Saller’s office at about 5:30 a.m. PDT and will “remain inside the building and are refusing to leave until their demands are met,” according to a statement by the group’s spokesperson.

The protesters are demanding that the school divest itself of any financial interests in any companies “that provide material and logistical support to Israel’s current military campaign,” according to the group.

Campus police, Palo Alto police and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies have responded to the barricade, the city’s police department said.

“A group of individuals this morning unlawfully entered Building 10, which houses the offices of the president and provost,” according to a statement by Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi.

“The Stanford Department of Public Safety has responded to the scene and is assessing the situation. Other campus operations have not been affected at this time.”  

College students across the nation have been staging campus protests in recent weeks, demanding their schools withdraw any investments they say are helping Israeli forces in their military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces have been attacking the Palestinian enclave ever since Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7.

The most prominent U.S. campus action against Israel was taken by Columbia University students who took over a key building in their protest, Hamilton Hall.

The protests led to campus leaders bringing in New York City police officers to take back the building and clear a protester encampment. On-campus graduation ceremonies had to be moved to a football stadium 100 blocks off campus.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.