The U and Palestine

Where do students and Minneapolis stand? Well, we asked you.

By Joshua Kloss, Alessandra Benitez

Though it feels as if people are talking about Gaza less than they were a few months ago, the reality that Palestinians are facing continues to worsen. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have completely destroyed the north of the Gaza Strip; people who menstruate have no access to sanitary products; many cannot evacuate hospitals because of their wounds, and yet, there is no one to care for said wounds. Simply put, there are no healthcare options left in Palestine while there are thousands of individuals who desperately need them. Those who have managed to survive the past 108 days have nothing left, not even their truth. Recently, photojournalist Motaz Azaiza shared on Instagram that he’s evacuating Gaza and finding refuge in Qatar. From the beginning, Azaiza has been diligent about sharing the reality that civilians in Gaza are facing. His work was monumental and truthful, and now he’s forced to leave hundreds of stories untold. 

Palestine is going through a genocide. Yet, multiple countries around the globe are indifferent to this suffering. Major world powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom continue to back Israel, with President Biden showing unwavering support for the state of Israel and, recently, condemning the actions of Houthis in Yemen, who have attacked and targeted many Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea. However, several countries have also publicly condemned Israel’s ongoing bombardment on Gaza. South Africa accused Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but the recent ruling fell short of enacting an actual ceasefire. The two previous times there was a call for ceasefire in the United Nations, the US has vetoed it. But, as of January 25th, Minneapolis has joined the list of cities that have passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East. The resolution is not unlike those of Seattle or Atlanta, who also passed resolutions in support of peace. The one proposed by Minneapolis is four-fold in its demands: it asks for the end of United States aid to Israel, the release of all hostages taken by Hamas and the Israeli military, and calling for a permanent, full cease-fire. As of recently, however, Mayor Frey has vetoed that resolution, putting its future into uncertainty.

The resolution initially passed through the Minneapolis City Council with a 9-3 majority vote, which in part reflects the overwhelming public support for a ceasefire and shows that pro-Palestinian efforts of Minnesotans have not dwindled since October. Protesters with the Anti-War Committee have continued dropping banners to raise awareness in populous spots like the Mall of America on Black Friday, above interstates and highways, and so on. Protesters also convened outside Senator Amy Klobachar’s office, organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace - Twin Cities, to put pressure on Klobuchar to call for a ceasefire.

However, students on campus remain engaged in the fight for Palestine, too. One such group, organized by students here at the U, is the immensely dedicated Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The protests and demonstrations that they’ve organized, alongside other local groups like the ones discussed above, have mobilized students to show their support for Palestine. But, despite tremendous public support for Palestine and open calls for the United States to finally end its aid to Israel, the genocide persists, and the whole country, as well as our own campus, remains divided on stances on Israel. Students rallying in support of Palestine at Columbia University in January were victims of a chemical attack when assailants—who protesters alleged are  tied to the Israeli Defense Forces—threw “skunk,” onto protesters, resulting in serious burns and requiring medical attention for some. In a world where it can be dangerous, then, to condemn a genocide, The Wake magazine wanted to dedicate this feature article to be a forum for students to anonymously and comfortably share their opinions and feelings about what is all unfolding in the Middle East.

The first question posed to poll respondents asked what they felt was most important for The Wake to address in our discussion of the Middle East. One response stuck out, emphasizing the importance and “difficulties of a Palestinian in Gaza to separate themselves from Hamas. It’s the governmental body that Israel funded, and the only thing that stands between Palestinians and illegal Israeli settlements.”

Hamas is a militant group, whereas Israel is a state. As such, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that Israel, being an officially recognized state that receives funding from the United States—and your own tax dollars— there are certain responsibilities that Israel should live up to, such as limiting the loss of civilian life. Yet, they have decimated Gaza. In mentioning Hamas, it is important to amplify what other students were saying on the poll. Another student responded that The Wake should shed light on “the history of the conflict…this didn’t begin on October 7th.” Indeed, the conflict in the Middle East is a historical as well as a contemporary issue. Israeli violence against and brutalization of Palestinian people can be found even before the first ever officially recognized Nakba. And even before October 7th, Israel has bombed Gaza. The violence is not new.

“Ideally, if addressing the Palestine situation, [The Wake] should try and give a balanced overview. It’s a very polarizing issue, and people forming opinions tend to jump to the extreme of either side.” Truly, I couldn’t have said it better myself. The situation is one that tends to polarize even groups of people that tend to agree with one another. I myself have disagreed personally with people whom I thought to be very likeminded to me on other issues. Furthermore, another respondent notes that it is important to acknowledge “the spread of propaganda and misinformation from both sides.” I’m sure you’ve seen it: deliberate information spread on social media platforms from the IDF; one such example includes spreading a fake Hamas website on the social media platform X. Or maybe you’ve seen photos of children who were captioned as Israeli, but were in fact Palestinian, shared on Instagram by celebrities you might follow, such as Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared a photo of Palestinian children with the caption “Pray for Israel,” after October 7th; and Justin Bieber, who shared a statement in support of Israel while showcasing a photo of destruction in Gaza caused by Israel. In light of the heavy flow of misinformation and unfair reporting by major news outlets, it’s important to remain critical of all the resources you can consume to learn about the issue—that means even this article!

One student says that, “many Jewish people, including myself, don’t believe that Israel represents Jewish people. It is not anti-semitic to criticize Israel, especially when they are not following the Jewish value of never again.” And, when posed the question “What do you feel is important for students here at the U to know,” one poll respondent said that “Anti-zionism is not anti-semitism and conflating the two does a lot of harm to Jewish people.” Going forward, one student said that “Students need to look at the whole history of the conflict.” 

The issue is, of course, heavily nuanced, so much so that we can’t give it the attention it deserves. For this reason, we encourage you to seek out more information on sources that you can look to in order to learn more about the long history of settler colonialism in Israel. As we’ve mentioned in a prior feature, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Kahlidi, Steven Salaita’s essay, “A Practical Appraisal of Palestinian Violence,” or the movie “Gaza Fights for Freedom,” are all valuable resources one could start with. 

Ultimately, the genocide that is unfolding continues to happen, wether you are paying attention or not. Currently, Jacob Frey has vetoed the Ceasefire Resolution, which means that “it’s important to mention that grassroots organizing, insisting on taking up sauce repeatedly, and direct action all work.” As mentioned in our earlier article, protesting is important work that you can get involved in right here at home. Find a cause that most speaks to how you feel on the issue, and find ways to get involved—protesting doesn’t have to mean you’re out on the streets marching, but you can even do important work from home. Some local organizations that are worth mentioning include the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), The Jewish Voice for Peace (SJP), and The Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC). And where you might not want to protest, you can certainly learn. 

After all, you read this article, right?

SOURCES

Wake Mag