Fights broke out between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel supporters in violent clashes at UCLA on Sunday.

A group of demonstrators breached a barrier that the university had established separating the two groups of protesters and "physical altercations" took place between members of the two groups, said school officials.

"UCLA has a long history of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad," Vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications Mary Osako said in a statement.

"We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site," she added.

"As an institution of higher education, we stand firmly for the idea that even when we disagree, we must still engage respectfully and recognize one another's humanity," Osako said. "We are dismayed that certain individuals instead chose to jeopardize the physical safety of the community."

The school had previously taken several steps to help ensure people on campus knew about the demonstration so they could avoid the area if they wished.

Also in Southern California, a statue of the University of Southern California's mascot Tommy Trojan was spray-painted with the words "say no to genocide" as on-campus tensions persist there in the wake of the college's decision to cancel its main commencement ceremony.

Police have arrested hundreds of additional protesters at college campuses nationwide as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue.

The protests started with an encampment at Columbia University where students demanded the Ivy League school divest from Israeli companies because of the war that has killed an estimated 34,000 Palestinians.

The Israeli military invaded Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,000 people and kidnapping hundreds more.