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Pro-Israel, Anti-Israel Protesters Clash at UCLA
Dueling Demonstrations Draw Hundreds to Campus
Tensions Flare Over Gaza War
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (CNN) -- Demonstrators supporting and opposing Israel over the war in Gaza clashed in a large and noisy but mostly peaceful protest at UCLA on Sunday.
The dueling demonstrations drew hundreds of people to campus, with the pro-Israel group holding a rally in front of the university's iconic Royce Hall and the anti-Israel protesters gathering in a nearby park.
Tensions flared when some members of the anti-Israel group tried to block the pro-Israel protesters from entering Royce Hall. There were several shoving matches and at least one person was arrested, according to police.
The anti-Israel protesters chanted slogans such as "Free Palestine" and "End the occupation," while the pro-Israel protesters waved Israeli flags and shouted "We love Israel."
The protests come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, following a series of deadly attacks in Israel and the Israeli military's subsequent airstrikes on Gaza.
Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice have set a 9:30 a.m. demonstration to support students' right to protest.
The demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the day.
Conclusion
The protests at UCLA are a reminder of the deep divisions that exist over the Israel-Palestinian conflict. They also underscore the challenges facing universities as they try to balance the right to free speech with the need to maintain order on campus.
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