American university students are being encouraged to demonstrate peacefully in support of Palestine by White House officials. This call comes after nearly 300 individuals were arrested during protests involving this issue. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby condemned hate speech, anti-Semitism, and threats of violence that have emerged during the protests.
Protests against Israel and in support of Palestine have been taking place at various universities across the United States. Students have set up tents, occupied campus buildings, and ignored police requests to disperse. They are calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for universities to sever ties with Israel. While many of these protests have been peaceful, there has been an increase in arrests. Over the weekend, around 275 people were arrested at four universities. Police have had to use riot officers with tear gas and electric guns to manage the situation, leading some individuals to criticize their tactics.
University administrators are facing challenges in responding to these protests. They must balance respecting students’ freedom of speech with controlling aggressive and inflammatory statements and violence. Some campuses have had to close, with students being asked to take online courses instead of attending final exams on campus.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated after Hamas attacked southern Israel, resulting in over 1,100 deaths. The IDF launched a military campaign to demilitarize Gaza and eliminate Hamas, which led to controversy over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Gaza health authorities reported over 34,000 deaths while the IDF claimed they took down over 13,000 Hamas members. Despite this tension on campus protest continues across the US
