Old Pro-Palestine Protest in Norway Resurfaced After the Columbia Student Protests
The Claim
a video clip shows different scenes of a recent demonstration at Columbia University.
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Amidst the recent wave of pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University and similar movements across Western universities, social media users widely circulated a video clip with different scenes of a recent demonstration at Columbia University.
Social media users shared the footage along with the caption, "Columbia University after suspending 15 students for supporting Palestine."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral video and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a comprehensive reverse image search, Misbar’s team determined that the video does not feature a recent protest inside Columbia University.
The Video Shows Old Pro-Palestine Protests in Norway
Despite claims circulating on social media, the video in question was not shot within the campus of Columbia University. Instead, it features previous pro-Palestine demonstrations in Oslo, Norway.
The footage includes scenes from a protest held on March 16, 2024, documented by Palestinian photographer Eyad Al Zaro. Al Zaro shared the footage in two reels on his Instagram account on March 16 and March 20, showing the solidarity demonstrations in Oslo.
The video's caption explicitly identifies the location and date of the protest, stating, "Stop the genocide! Thank you Oslo for the love and solidarity, Norway - Oslo 🇳🇴 16/03/2024 Today. Massive demonstration Support for Gaza."
During these protests, participants were heard chanting pro-Palestine slogans condemning Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, including phrases like "Free, free for Palestine, we are all Palestinians, and down with occupation."
Moreover, the final scene of the circulating video was previously uploaded to Instagram by the same photographer on November 4, 2023.
This coincided with the day the U.S. Embassy in Norway issued an alert about an upcoming demonstration in Oslo. In his post accompanying the video, the photographer mentioned that on November 4, 2023, around 10,000 individuals in Oslo gathered to protest in support of Palestine.
Norway to Recognize a Palestinian State
Norway has long been known for its staunch solidarity with the Palestinian cause, with its citizens actively participating in pro-Palestine protests since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal campaign.
On April 12, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store affirmed Norway's readiness to recognize a Palestinian state, echoing sentiments expressed by other nations. He made this announcement while hosting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is seeking broader support for the Palestinian cause during his diplomatic tour.
Prime Minister Store emphasized that any decision to recognize Palestine would be made in close coordination with like-minded countries. Norway's parliament had already endorsed a government proposal in November to prepare for recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
Recent Pro-Palestine Protest at Columbia University
Protests over the war in Gaza have sparked significant unrest on U.S. university campuses, with students advocating for a boycott of entities and individuals connected to Israel.
On Tuesday night, police conducted campus raids at Columbia University and The City University of New York (CUNY) in New York City, resulting in approximately 300 arrests, according to officials.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that the "massive operation" was carried out at the request of Columbia University to remove individuals who had occupied a building.
The current pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University is evoking comparisons to a movement that took place nearly six decades ago.
In 1968, students at Columbia University seized control of five campus buildings in protest against the institution's involvement in military research, particularly during the Vietnam War.
Disturbing footage circulating online features masked counter-demonstrators, expressing support for Israel, welding sticks and attempting to dismantle barricades, further escalating tensions.
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