"Officers attended Wellington Square at Oxford University, at around 8 am this morning following reports that protesters had gained access to a private office within one of the buildings," Thames Valley Police said in a statement.

Oxford University said in a statement that the sit-in was "not peaceful" and that the group conducted "a violent action that included forcibly overpowering the receptionist."

"It is clear that a faction of students and faculty claiming to represent OA4P have not been interested in dialogue in good faith," the university said.

Oxford Action for Palestine said they entered the building "with the intention to remain until we could engage with dialogue with the vice-chancellor" about the university's investments that are tied to Israel.