On the far left, an anti-Israel student group is adopting language that appears sympathetic to Hamas, making statements like “being properly involved in colonial struggles” to promote events commemorating the two-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages taken.
A recent Instagram post from a UCLA student representing the Palestinian branch mentioned that for Palestinians, this marks a significant engagement in their colonial struggle. The group has organized a “flower procession” on Tuesday to advocate for Palestinians in Gaza and those living under occupation worldwide, remembering lives lost due to what they describe as the actions of a Zionist state.
Experts note a troubling trend across universities, arguing that environments are breeding anti-Semitism while some institutions seem to be playing a dangerous game with the politics surrounding this issue. At the University of Michigan, an alliance was formed that is protesting the past two years, labeling it as a genocide and attacking the university’s refusal to confront what they deem an apartheid state.
On October 7, the organization stated that Gazans mark two years of genocide by an Israeli state without addressing the horrific attacks by Hamas that initiated this conflict. Columbia University’s protest invited students to memorialize what they referred to as “Palestinian martyrs” after 700 days of ongoing violence.
Similarly, George Washington University’s group held an event to honor martyrs and the resistance of the Palestinian community. Meanwhile, George Mason University’s chapter announced a week of action, framing October 7 as the anniversary of an alleged genocide against Gaza. They, like other university SJP chapters, are framing their narrative without acknowledging the significant loss of life on the Israeli side that day, which marked one of the deadliest moments for Jews since the Holocaust.
In their social media communications, some chapters have expressed solidarity with Palestinian martyrs and encouraged gatherings in their memory, viewing this as the beginning of a relentless and horrific campaign against their people.
In the midst of rising global anti-Semitism linked to the ongoing conflict, critics argue that Israel’s military actions, intended to protect its citizens and eliminate threats, have been labeled as inhumane or genocidal by various factions. However, Israel contends it has the right to defend itself vigorously.
