By Shafik Khalili | Staff Writer
On October 7, 2023, as retaliation for years of oppression, Hamas launched an attack on
the occupying state of Israel, leading to the kidnapping of Israeli hostages. Israel responded with
an attack on Gaza which is still currently ongoing, their actions went from responding to an
attack to becoming a genocide and ethnic cleansing. The Hamas attack sparked outrage in
countries that support Israel, quickly condemning Hamas and offering support and aid to those
affected and to the occupying state. However, with further escalation, Israel is committing
genocide on the people of Gaza, bombing hospitals, places of worship, residential areas, and
schools. As of February 3, 2023, they have killed around 27,131 Palestinians with 11,500 being
children, around 66,287 injured, and more than 1 million displaced.
These atrocities caused by the occupying state have caused outrage around the world
leading to boycotts and protests. In Lebanon, protests have erupted since the beginning of the
escalation. Most protests in Lebanon were harmless, like the ones in central Beirut where
thousands of protesters took to the streets voicing their solidarity with Palestine, as well as the
ones carried out by university students such as the solidarity protest at the American University
of Beirut’s main gate, comprising of students expressing their rage against the atrocities
committed, as well as the march on October 18, 2023, where country officials declared a day of
mourning for those who lost their lives at the bombing of Al-Shifa hospital. Moreover, tens of
thousands of demonstrators gathered with purpose and resolve in the center of Baghdad’s Tahrir
Square, responding to the call of prominent Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr with a plurality of
voices. Concurrently, in the busy streets of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, protestors unfolded
Palestinian and Yemen flags, signifying resilience and togetherness in the face of their protest.
After prayers in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, a mournful scene occurred as some worshippers
purposefully walked over representations of the Israeli and US flags, sending a strong message
of protest.
Many more Arab and Muslim countries carried out protests in solidarity with Palestine,
but what was interesting is that European countries and the United States also had a vast number
of protests urging their governments to end the war in favor of a ceasefire. Cities such as Berlin
saw demonstrators gathered in front of the offices of Germany’s leading coalition partner, the
Social Democratic Party (SPD), calling for an immediate cease-fire in reaction to Israel’s
continuous onslaught on Gaza and the West Bank. Their passionate chants of "Freedom for
Gaza" and "Freedom for Palestine" echoed. Berliners showed their sympathy along the
procession’s route by leaning out of windows and waving Palestinian flags in demonstration. The
demonstrators marched through the city streets amid a sea of banners bearing messages that
demanded justice and condemned quiet. In Stockholm, Sweden, protesters uniting in support of
Palestine gathered in front of the Israeli embassy. As night fell, dozens of people gathered in the
Odenplan district and expressed their disapproval of Israel’s attacks and blockade of Gaza. They
were organized in response to the passionate pleas of different civil society organizations around
the country, and they pushed for an instant end to hostilities as well as unhindered humanitarian
access to the bombarded Gaza Strip.
Finally, the country that has seen the biggest rise in pro-Palestinian protests is the United
States. The United States, being the major ally of Israel has seen huge amounts of protests calling
for a ceasefire, such as the dozens of protests that held banners in Washington, D.C., chanting
“cease-fire now” which were later arrested, along with the group of protesters that blocked the
downtown freeway while calling for a permanent ceasefire. This marked a huge growth of pro-
Palestinian sentiment in the U.S., which according to experts, is due to multiple factors such as
the growing support of Palestine among younger people, the increasing number of civilian deaths
in Gaza due to Israel’s aggression, and the help of social media which is shedding light to the
atrocities done by Israel. All these protests have been criticized by pro-Israel organizations and
politicians claiming protests of being antisemitic and hateful towards the Jewish community.
Nevertheless, on January 19, 2024 protesters with Columbia University’s Students for
Justice in Palestine and the Jewish Voice for Peace said they were attacked with a chemical
substance known as “skunk water” which led protesters to be hospitalized. This attack was
carried out by two veteran IDF soldiers who are students at the university. “Skunk water” is a
chemical weapon that was created by the IDF in 2008 to be used against Palestinian
demonstrators in the West Bank. The message sent was that Palestinians and supporters of
Palestine, no matter where they are, are not safe. As Layla, a protester at Columbia University,
stated: “As someone who is Palestinian, it makes me feel like I am not safe anywhere”.
Ultimately, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), shows that there were
3,761 demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine, 529 demonstrations supporting Israel, and 95
neutral demonstrations calling for peace. This means that about 86% of protests were pro-
Palestinian. In the United States, a recent poll delved into opinions across various age
demographics regarding the justification of Israel’s response and the level of sympathy felt
toward the Palestinians. While a majority of respondents deemed Israel’s actions justified, a
notable contrast emerged among young Americans (aged 18-34), where a significant proportion
disagreed with the justification and expressed sympathy towards the Palestinians.
This divergence signals a noteworthy shift in public perception towards the conflict,
particularly given the significance of these young Americans as the future leaders and moral
compasses of the nation. In conclusion, I am overcome with profound sympathy for the pain that
the people of Palestine are enduring as I consider the tragic events that are taking place there.
Among this sadness, there is a touch of hope, thanks to the international protests and shows of
support for Palestine. The world’s unanimity in denouncing the horrors being committed is
encouraging, since it indicates a growing consciousness and a shared demand for justice. Even
though the obstacles are still numerous, the global display of solidarity confirms my faith in
people’s ability to empathize with one another and act as a group when injustice occurs.
References:
https://prismreports.org/2024/01/30/pro-palestine-students-at-columbia-university-speak-out-about-
skunk-attack/
https://globalaffairs.org/commentary-and-analysis/blogs/most-americans-say-israels-military-response-
justified-sympathize
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/MAPS/movajdladpa/#protests-sweep-
around-the-globe-as-israels-war-in-gaza-grinds-on
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/tens-of-thousands-have-joined-pro-palestinian-protests-across-the-
united-states-experts-say-they-are-growing
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/solidarity-demonstrations-for-palestine-held-in-europe-on-human-
rights-
day/3079024#:~:text=Protests%20in%20solidarity%20with%20Palestine,municipal%20building%20in%
20Heusden%2DZolder.
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/10/13/tens-of-thousands-rally-around-the-world-against-israels-
gaza-bombardment
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/2/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-downplays-settler-
violence-in-west-bank