Students at a growing number of colleges in the United States are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their schools: Stop doing business with Israel — or any companies that empower its ongoing war in Gaza.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

### Anger Spikes at U.S. Universities as Gaza Protests Intensify

Students across several colleges in the United States are erecting protest encampments, uniting under a collective call to their institutions: to cease all business relations with Israel and any corporations that support its military actions in Gaza. This development comes in response to ongoing conflict in the region.

At Columbia University on Manhattan's Upper West Side, an encampment named "The People's University for Palestine" has been established. Participants, in a bid for the university to divest from Israel, have set up tents and are prepared for a long stay. The protest began with the university involving the NYPD to disband the encampment, resulting in the arrest and subsequent release of several protestors, including a 26-year-old master's student named Catherine Elias.

The protesters express a determination to stand against the U.S.'s financial and manufacturing support of military efforts in Gaza, highlighting the role of university endowments in funding these activities. This student-led movement draws inspiration from historical protests in the US and globally, comparing their efforts to those against apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.

However, the protest has sparked tensions on campus. A group of ex-army veterans, some with Israeli roots, staged a counter-protest. They report experiencing provocation, including the burning of an American flag and assaults. They emphasize their peaceful presence and patriotism amidst these altercations.

Despite these challenges, the students in the encampment remain committed to their cause, denying accusations of antisemitism and emphasizing the peaceful nature of their protest. With a strong police presence on campus and external demonstrators showing support, the student protestors vow to continue their encampment until their demands are addressed.



Anger spikes at U.S. universities as Gaza protests intensify

Welcome to the People's University for Palestine, reads the sign at the student encampment at Columbia University on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Tent upon tent of students camping out in protest over the war in Gaza. They want the university to divest itself from anything related to Israel. This encampment started on the morning of April 17th. The university called in the NYPD to dismantle it and multiple people including 26 year old master's student Catherine Elias were arrested. They were quickly released. Catherine's been camping out here ever since. So a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, pillow, this is my keffiyeh. Pretty much everything I have at this point was donated by the community because all of my property was also destroyed by the police. The students here are determined and idealistic. I think our positionality here as students in the United States, where the United States is one of the largest funders of Israel, one of the largest funders of the genocide happening in Palestine. We sit in the country that not only funds but also manufactures and creates a lot of the bombs dropping in Gaza. Every piece of the weaponry that allows this genocide to continue is being funded actively by universities like Columbia through their endowments. So the student movement today is actually building off of the student movement from the 1960s here in the US and globally, the 1980s against apartheid South Africa and today we're seeing another spark in the student movement. But there's some discontent about the encampment. A group of ex-army veterans turned students has gathered on the steps opposite the encampment. Some of these students have Israeli roots. It seems like the school has lost control of the situation and nobody really knows what's gonna happen but you know we're not here to provoke anyone. We saw American flag get burned right outside. A couple of veterans were assaulted and a couple of my Jewish peers were assaulted and you know we're just out here to show we love our country. Students in the encampment deny there's been anti-semitism and emphasize that this is a peaceful movement. Outside the campus protesters gathered to show support. There's a heavy police presence. The student protesters say they'll keep camping out until their demands are met.

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Israel-Gaza War