Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University on Wednesday after protesters projected a US flag in flames on its building overnight with slogans including “Long live the student intifada”.

About 30 protesters were arrested in the hours after many had marched to the home of Ellen Granberg, the university’s president.

Local media citing community organisers reported instances of protesters being pepper-sprayed by police as they attempted to enter the encampment on Wednesday.

“While the university is committed to protecting students’ rights to free expression, the encampment had evolved into an unlawful activity, with participants in direct violation of multiple university policies and city regulations,” the university said in a statement.

Students had projected messages including “Glory to the martyrs of Palestine”, “Down with the settler state” and “Stained with the blood of 44,000 Palestinians” onto one side of a university building.

This police action coincides with a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on Wednesday afternoon, where Muriel Bowser, the city’s mayor, and the police chief Pamela Smith will address the handling of the protest.

A pro-Palestinian tent encampment was also dismantled at the University of Chicago on Tuesday, following a shift in the administration’s stance because of escalating safety concerns.

“The university remains a place where dissenting voices have many avenues to express themselves, but we cannot enable an environment where the expression of some dominates and disrupts the healthy functioning of the community for the rest,” said Paul Alivisatos, the university’s president.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the University of Chicago for at least eight days until administrators warned them on Friday to leave or face removal.

Tensions have continued to escalate in standoffs with protesters on campuses across the US – and now increasingly in Europe – nearly three weeks into a movement ignited by a protest at Columbia University.

Universities have taken varying approaches. Some, including Wesleyan University, have allowed encampments to go ahead, while others, such as George Washington University and Chicago, have taken a more forceful stance.

The Rhode Island School of Design relocated classes on Tuesday from a building covered with pro-Palestine posters including “Free Palestine” and “Let Gaza live”.

Since April 18, more 2,600 people have been arrested across 50 American campuses.