In a response to growing concerns about safety, police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the University of Chicago on Tuesday. Initially adopting a permissive approach, university administrators took a stand after deeming the protest to have crossed a line. University President Paul Alivisatos acknowledged the importance of freedom of speech but emphasized the need to maintain a healthy functioning community.

The move comes as tensions continue to rise in standoffs between protesters and universities across the United States and Europe. The movement, sparked by a protest at Columbia University, has led to crackdowns at some colleges against protests over the Israel-Hamas war. While some schools have allowed the encampments, others have grown concerned about disruptions to campus life, safety, and the involvement of nonstudents.

According to figures based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies, over 2,600 people have been arrested on the campuses of 50 colleges and universities since April 18. However, some institutions have taken a different approach. Wesleyan University in Connecticut, for example, has commended the on-campus demonstration as a form of political expression.

At the University of Chicago, hundreds of protesters had gathered for over a week until administrators warned them to leave or face removal. On Tuesday, law enforcement dismantled the encampment. Tensions escalated as officers picked up a barricade and moved it towards the demonstrators, prompting a push-and-pull between police and protesters.

Similar events have unfolded at other universities. MIT protesters were given a deadline to leave or face suspension, resulting in many voluntarily leaving, according to an MIT spokesperson. Meanwhile, student protests have spread to Europe, with arrests reported in Amsterdam and the dismantling of an occupation at Berlin's Free University. Demonstrations and encampments have also taken place in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France, and Britain.

Many of the protesters are calling for divestment from companies that do business with Israel or contribute to the war effort. Others are aiming to draw attention to the deaths in Gaza and advocate for the end of the war. As commencement ceremonies approach at Wesleyan University, some protesters fear being forcibly removed from the campus center.

As universities try various tactics to address the protests and pave the way for commencement ceremonies, New York City's Columbia University recently canceled its main ceremony, opting for smaller, school-based celebrations with enhanced security measures. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 34,500 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.