An image of a man wearing a headband similar to those worn by Hamas terrorist fighters on the campus of Stanford University has gone viral. The image was taken by two Jewish students who were concerned that the university was not doing enough to police anti-Semitic behavior.
The two friends, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, were walking Friday near White Plaza, the center of the Northern California campus where anti-Israel protesters have set up camp, when they saw someone sitting at a picnic. He said he discovered. table.
After approaching the unidentified person, they realized that the headband he was wearing was the same type worn by members of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. I noticed.
“We were just shocked that someone could do something like that in the middle of our campus,” one student told FOX News Digital. “I was with friends so I just went there to take pictures.
“We thought about going up to him and saying something, but we thought it wasn’t worth it and might even be dangerous.”
An image of a man wearing a green headband with Arabic writing on it and a face covering sitting at a table quickly went viral on social media and caught the attention of university administrators.
The school said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received “numerous concerns regarding a photo circulating on social media of an individual from White Plaza who appears to be wearing the same green headband worn by Hamas members. I have received the statement.” “
We find this very concerning, as Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States government. Although the individuals could not be identified, the photos were forwarded to the FBI. ”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the university. The FBI’s San Francisco field office declined to comment for this story.
At Stanford University, like many college campuses across the country, pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested in the wake of a deadly Oct. 7 attack by the terrorist group and an Israeli military offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. We have seen people straddle or cross free speech lines using some rhetoric that is considered anti-Semitic. Israeli community.
“People sometimes disagree with things and that’s okay. We’re in college,” the second student who took the image told FOX News Digital.
He noted that some demonstrators were unable to clearly explain why they opposed Israel.
“It’s so frustrating. You ask people where Israel and Palestine are on a map. They won’t even know where it is,” he said. “If you’re in that tent, you know what you’re talking about.”
Their additional concern was that someone might wear a headband worn by a designated terrorist group on an American college campus.
Both students said they are calling on Stanford administrators to take a more aggressive stance in stamping out speech that incites violence.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the university. The FBI’s San Francisco field office declined to comment for this story.
Like many college campuses across the country, Stanford University has seen pro-Palestinian protesters straddle or cross free speech lines. consider antisemitism The issue surrounding Israel’s military offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip following the terrorist group’s deadly October 7 attack on the Israeli community.
“People sometimes disagree with things and that’s okay. We’re in college,” the second student who took the image told FOX News Digital.
He noted that some demonstrators were unable to clearly explain their reasons. oppose israel.
“It’s so frustrating. You ask people where Israel and Palestine are on a map. They won’t even know where it is,” he said. “If you’re in that tent, you know what you’re talking about.”
Their additional concern was that someone might wear a headband worn by a designated terrorist group on an American college campus.
Both students said they are calling on Stanford administrators to take a more aggressive stance in stamping out speech that incites violence.
“It’s certainly tough being a Jewish student on campus right now,” one of them said. “It’s hard to see my peers. Some of them are willing to spew hate, some of them know it’s wrong, but some of them just follow suit because they think it’s right. ”
In a separate statement to FOX News Digital regarding protests on college campuses, the FBI said it is “in close contact with our state and local law enforcement partners and, as in the normal course of our work, regarding potential threats.” We will share all information.” .
“We respect the right of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, and the FBI investigates individuals who violate federal law through violence or other criminal acts,” the bureau said in a statement. Ta.
