MASSIVE pro-Palestinian demonstrations and occupations continued across universities in the United States, Europe and Australia today, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes under increasing pressure at home.

The student protests have led to a brutal crackdown by police, particularly at US universities.

From New York to California, students protesting against Israel’s assault on Gaza slept in tents at college campuses, as some universities moved to shut down encampments, arresting dozens of demonstrators.

With the Gaza death toll surging to over 34,300, protesters are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say enable the conflict. 

Some Jewish students claim the protests have veered into anti-semitism and made them afraid to enter campus.

Talks between students and administrators began late on Saturday to end the encampment set up at Columbia University in New York City.

But scenes of mass arrests on US campuses are filling social media timelines.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein said in a social media post that she and two of her campaign managers were among those arrested on the Washington University campus.

In Boston, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University on Saturday.

Massachusetts State Police said about 102 protesters were arrested and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. 

In Paris, at the renowned Sciences Po university, protesters on Friday blockaded a central campus building, forcing classes to be held online.

Canada’s first campus protest for Gaza has been set up at McGill University in Montreal, where protesters are demanding a divestment of funds “implicated in the zionist state as well as a cut in ties with zionist academic institutions.”

Students at the University of Sydney’s historic Camperdown campus set up an pro-Palestinian encampment last week, also calling for the university to “cut ties with arms manufacturers.”

Last week Mr Netanyahu described the protesters as “anti-semitic mobs calling for the annihilation of Israel,” and claimed they were attacking Jewish students and faculty members.

The Israeli PM faces mounting pressure at home, with thousands hitting the streets across Israel on Saturday to demand his resignation and imprisonment.

In Tel Aviv, three separate protests converged near Azrieli Mall, while dozens of demonstrators, led by relatives of hostages, attempted to block Ayalon Highway, reported The Times of Israel.

Some protesters bypassed police barriers, and some ended up in skirmishes with police.

Seven protesters were reported to have been arrested.