Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested and suspended after barricading themselves in Stanford University president's office

More than a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters at Stanford University have been arrested — and some immediately suspended from school — Wednesday after briefly serving as president, authorities said.

In the latest provocative action on campus calling for divestment from Israel following the country's war with Hamas, students and alumni entered President Richard Saller's office around 5:30 a.m., according to the spokesperson for the group.

They swore to “remain inside the building and refuse to leave until their demands are met,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

But within three hours, the building appeared to be under university control again. after campus police and Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies took action, officials said.

“This morning, a group of individuals illegally entered Building 10, which houses the offices of the President and Provost,” according to Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi. “Law enforcement arrested 13 people and the building was emptied.”

The school immediately took action against the students involved.

“A public safety officer was injured after being shoved by protesters who were obstructing a transport vehicle. There was significant damage inside Building 10 and outside the quad buildings,” Mostofi continued.

“We are dismayed that our students have chosen to take this action and we will work with law enforcement to ensure they face every consequence permitted by the law. Any students arrested will be immediately suspended and if any If they are a senior, they will not be allowed to graduate.

It was not immediately clear whether “will not be allowed to graduate” meant that students would be excluded from graduation ceremonies or would be kicked out of the school altogether without being eligible to graduate.

Wednesday is the last day of classes for the spring term, with graduation ceremonies scheduled for June 15-16.

“We have always emphasized the need for constructive engagement and peaceful protest when disagreements arise,” Mostofi said. “This was not a peaceful protest and actions such as those this morning have no place at Stanford.”

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

Students across the country have held protests on their campuses this spring, demanding that their schools withdraw any investment they say helps Israeli forces in their military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces have been attacking the Palestinian enclave since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7.

The most significant action against Israel on American campuses was led by Columbia University students who took over a key building, Hamilton Hall.

The protests led campus leaders to call in New York City police officers to take over the building and evacuate an encampment of protesters. On-campus graduation ceremonies had to be moved to a football stadium 100 blocks from campus.