By BBC News World
Apr 25, 2024, 7:39 PM EDT
The protests that began last week at Columbia University in New York against Israel’s military intervention in Gaza, in which more than 100 protesters were arrested, have spread to university campuses across the United States.
Students are demanding that universities disassociate themselves from Israel and any company that supports its attacks on Gaza.
They have established camps on university campuses and hold events in which they display Palestinian flags, sing songs, and display posters with messages condemning Israel and supporting the Palestinian cause.
In a few cases, messages favorable to Hamas and the intifada have been observed, which has caused protests by Jewish students who feel intimidated.
On several campuses the authorities have tried to break up the protests through the use of force, which has caused Clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters.
These are some of the images left by the past three days on various American campuses.
The demonstrations and Heated debates over Israel’s war in Gaza and free expression have rocked US campuses. since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which began the Israeli military campaign in the Strip.
When asked about the university protests on Monday, US President Joe Biden said he condemned both “the anti-Semitic protests” and “those who do not understand what is happening to the Palestinians.”
The authorities of these prestigious and influential universities have difficulty calming tempers on their campuses and for the most part they have failed.
One of their biggest concerns is the upcoming graduation ceremonies.
The University of Southern California (USC) drew criticism and protests last week when it canceled the traditional commencement speech of its valedictorian, a Muslim who has advocated on behalf of the Palestinians.
The Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and the taking of another 253 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.
Since then, more than 34,000 people have died in the Strip, most of them children and women, due to the Israeli offensive in the Palestinian territory, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
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- The growing tension in US universities after the wave of arrests of students protesting against the war in Gaza