Police launch investigation into anti-Israel posters at NTU

SINGAPORE: Police are conducting an investigation following a report regarding posters discovered in Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) toilets, alleging that the university is utilizing student fees to support Israel in the conflict in Gaza.

The controversial posters, discovered in NTU’s toilets during the university’s Open House on Saturday (2 Mar), linked NTU with Israeli universities and businesses allegedly associated with Israel.

The anti-Israel poster was posted on Reddit.

The top of the poster declared, “Applying to NTU? Your school fees are funding the genocide in Palestine.”

The poster specifically highlighted NTU’s collaboration with the French multinational company Thales, renowned for its expertise in aerospace, defense, transportation, and security, as it maintains a joint research laboratory with the university and the French National Centre for Scientific Research..

According to the poster, Thales has ties with Israeli Aerospace Industries and Elbit, an Israel-based international military technology company.

The poster accused these companies of providing weapons used in the Israel-Hamas war.

In response to the incident, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has swiftly addressed the unauthorized appearance of anti-Israel posters on its campus.

The university clarified on Tuesday (5 Mar) that these posters, which claimed NTU was using school fees to fund Israel’s involvement in the conflict in Gaza, were not approved, and all of them have been removed by campus security.

NTU also said a police report has been made.

In response to TODAY, the police confirmed on Tuesday that a report was lodged, and investigations are currently ongoing.

Previously, it has been said that NTU students have actively participated in events supporting Palestine solidarity.

The organizer for “Singapore for Palestine” previously stated that approximately a hundred students, including those from NTU, organized events on their respective campuses to commemorate the lives lost in Palestine and affirm their dedication to a free Palestine.

“What’s more, apart from the actions we organized, around a hundred students across NTU, NUS, and SMU also organized events on their respective campuses to mourn the loss of Palestinian lives and express their commitment to a free Palestine,” said the organizer.

Specifically, more than 40 NTU students engaged in a teach-in focused on Palestine.

During this session, participants delved into topics such as the occupation of Palestine, the history of Zionism, and acquired a critical thinking toolkit to counter disinformation.