In protest of the official French stance supporting "Israel's" genocide in Gaza, students from Lyon 3 University blocked the institution’s entrances and filled the campus with slogans supporting Gaza and Palestine during the visit of French National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet.

Students wrote phrases on the walls, such as "Yaël is complicit," "Yaël, get out of our way," and "Israel is a killer."

On Friday afternoon, dozens of students gathered outside the university to denounce Braun-Pivet’s visit, accusing her of supporting the policies of "Israel" in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing genocide in Gaza for over a year.

The students began protesting in the street before successfully entering the university, chanting against Braun-Pivet: "Complicit in genocide, leave our universities," while waving Palestinian flags.

French media outlets reported that the student union said that "several lectures were disrupted before security forces were able to force the protesters out," noting that under "tight security arrangements," the demonstrators were unable to prevent the deputy, who has been head of the National Assembly since 2022, from attending or participating in a conference with students from the Polygon Association.

On her part, Braun-Pivet expressed her "deep sadness over the events of the day."

Aujourd’hui, les étudiants de Lyon 3 ont DEFENDU leur université contre la venue de @YaelBRAUNPIVET.

« Complice du GENOCIDE, hors de nos FACS »

Ils ont BLOQUÉ les entrées de l’établissement et recouvert l’université de TAGS.

TOTAL soutien à nos CAMARADES 💪 🇵🇸

Les CRS sont… pic.twitter.com/txtdmviz6T

— Ilan Gabet (@Ilangabet) November 8, 2024

She told French media: "It is very unfortunate that some prefer to resort to insults and obstruction rather than dialogue. I was ready to have a discussion with them if they wanted. Since entering politics, I’ve tried to adopt balanced positions and delve into the complexities of issues, but I’ve noticed that it has become more difficult in public debate. However, there is no turning back. For this reason, I insisted on coming to the university. I would have considered it a very serious matter for our democracy if I had not been able to do so."

It is worth noting that the National Assembly in France is the lower house of the French Parliament, which is a bicameral legislature. It plays a key role in the legislative process, with its members, known as deputies, elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of five years.

The National Assembly has the authority to propose and amend legislation, in addition to holding the government accountable. It works alongside the upper house, the Senate, to form the legislative power in the French government.

French universities and academic institutions have witnessed a series of student protests against the war on the Gaza Strip.

French MP to propose bill banning 'Israel' criticism

Earlier, a Zionist member of France's parliament proposed criminalizing all criticism of "Israel", which has provoked an outcry among activists and lawmakers.

Caroline Yadan, a member of the French National Assembly, will propose legislation that, among other things, prohibits "the denial of the State of Israel," and restricts free speech like using the phrase "from the river to the sea," during pro-Palestine rallies. 

In a statement on X, European legislator Rima Hassan wrote that "Israel" "deserves criticism" because it has "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."

French poet and novelist Jean-Philippe Cazier called the effort a way to "suppress the freedom of thought, criticism, and writing," stating on X that Yadan is looking to "prevent condemnation of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.”

Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, also remarked that if there is just one regime "that deserves criticism, it is Israel."

Hassan detailed how the Israeli occupation "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."

Tensions between France and the Israeli occupation have been high after Emmanuel Macron repeatedly urged nations to halt weapon deliveries to "Israel" if those arms are utilized in Gaza and Lebanon. He also stated privately that Netanyahu should not "ignore United Nations decisions" because "his country was created by a U.N. decision," remarks that prompted outrage from Netanyahu. 

Read more: French court sentences pro-Palestine activist to three years in prison