Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma was caught in a scuffle during a city council meeting Thursday night after a vote against boycotting Israeli products. Pro-Palestine demonstrators, who were present in the public gallery, refused to leave the council chamber after the vote.

Dijksma then took the initiative to escort the demonstrators out of the building. Outside, some protesters attempted to block Dijksma from re-entering the town hall, leading to a physical confrontation. According to Dijksma, there was punching and she was caught in the middle of the scuffle near the door.

While Dijksma was not struck by the protesters, security personnel intervened and escorted her back into the building through a back entrance. The council meeting resumed after a roughly 30-minute delay.

Dijksma expressed her understanding of the demonstrators’ anger and emotion but condemned their aggression. The Thursday evening meeting was the final council session before the summer recess.