An activist climbed one of the towers of the former boiler house of Radboudumc in Nijmegen on Wednesday morning. According to his own statement, he is a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. He intends to remain in the tower until the university cuts its ties with Israel.

The man has been hanging in what appears to be a sleeping bag since shortly after 6:00 AM and has a backpack with him. He remains still, occasionally gives a thumbs-up, and does not seem to have any intention of coming down.

Emergency services arrived at Zernikeplaats in Nijmegen, opposite HAN University, to bring the man down. They approached him using a fire department aerial platform. Police have stated that they have spoken with the activist.

Banner

The man has his face almost completely covered. He speaks English and says he has a banner with him, but has been unable to hoist it up.

He shouts ‘Free Palestine, brother’ and ‘Radboud, cut the ties,’ referring to the ties Radboud University has with Israeli universities, which, according to activists and an advisory committee, should be severed. He also calls out, ‘Radboudumc, cut the ties.’

‘Radboud University and Radboudumc are complicit in the genocide in Gaza,’ the man says. According to him, the hospital also has a partnership with Israel, but he says he does not know the nature of that collaboration. Whether such a partnership actually exists is therefore unknown.

38 meters

He says he is affiliated with the activist group Nijmegen Encampment, which organises many pro-Palestinian actions at the university. A spokesperson for the group stated via email that the action is also a call for the democratization of the university:
‘The university is currently a toxic and undemocratic place. It’s time that students and staff gain a say in the ethical boundaries of academic collaborations.’

Emergency services have since left the area, likely in the hope that the man will come down on his own. Earlier, they had mentioned making a plan to bring the activist down. Security guards are still present in the area.

The chimneys of the boiler house are each about 38 meters high.

This article previously appeared in De Gelderlander.