D.C. police break up pro-Palestinian protests on George Washington University campus

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. police early Wednesday morning broke up a protest by several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had occupied the George Washington University campus for nearly two weeks.

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It is not clear if there have been any arrests yet, but officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are working to clear University Yard.

7News obtained video of officers arriving at Yatd around 3:30 a.m. Check it out below:

According to the university’s independent student newspaper, GW Hatchet, “At about 3:30 a.m., officers warned protesters to move for the third and final time, telling anyone still in the U-Yard and section of H Street to move.” Anyone who stopped in front of Plaza would be arrested.

This comes as Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Chief Pamela Smith are set to testify Wednesday afternoon at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on the District’s handling of the protest. The hearing is titled: Oversight of DC’s Response to Unlawful Activities and Anti-Semitism.

As time runs out for the hearing, Bowser said, “My constitutional responsibility is to make sure people can protest safely and, if they don’t, to support interaction with law enforcement.”

GW students, students from neighboring universities and activists from across the DMV took part in the protest. Organizers join others across the country in calling on their universities to divest from companies that support Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.