Pro-Palestinian group holds rally on Sacramento State Campus
SACRAMENTO – Nearly halfway across the globe, tensions soar between Israel and Palestine communities.
As the Israel War enters its sixth day, American colleges enter a new battlefront.
The National Students for Justice in Palestine mobilized its chapters to host a day of resistance on Thursday. For them, the recent attacks symbolize a war cry for pro-Palestine supporters.
The Gaza Strip is considered to be one of the world's largest open-air prisons by human rights organizations.
"It's also very important to understand that this was not an action for no reason. That this was not unprovoked," said a student organizer who spoke on anonymity.
Several student-advocates hid their faces out of fear of retaliation, the student said.
Roughly a couple dozen pro-Palestine supporters marched throughout Sacramento State. Many say they view Saturday's attack as the beginning of liberating Palestinians.
As of Thursday afternoon, Israel's military said Hamas' attack killed more than 1,200 people, including at least 27 Americans, and left about 2,800 people wounded. At least 1,537 people, including 447 children, have been killed in Gaza by Israel's retaliatory strikes, the Gaza Ministry of Health said, adding that more than 6,000 others were wounded.
The region is marred by a complicated history. Israel and Hamas have fought multiple times since the militant group gained political power in 2007. Hamas' stance has always remained clear: Israel does not have a right to exist.
The UC Davis chapter of Student for Justice in Palestine released a statement blaming the current escalation of violence on Israeli occupation.
"It's disgusting. It's despicable. There is no moral ambiguity here. We need our university president to condemn this type of action," said Marc Levine, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Central Pacific Office based in San Francisco.
In a statement released before Thursday, the UC Davis chancellor condemned the attacks while writing that the university stands in support of its Jewish and Muslim communities.
A Sacramento State spokesperson said it condemns the Hamas attacks and all acts of terrorism. They also said the university supports students' rights to free speech, even if they disagree with what is said.
Meanwhile, some outsiders offer a different stance.
"Honestly, I'm on neither side because I believe both sides are victims," said Jada Harris, a first-year student at Sacramento State.