Syracuse, NY — More than 60 students and community members rallied Tuesday on Syracuse University’s Shaw Quad against Israeli military actions in Rafah as students entered their second week in their pro-Palestinian encampment.
Demonstrators organized in a circle and pounded drums and buckets as they chanted “All eyes on Rafah” and “Disclose, divest. We will not stay.”
More than 30 tents, including ones for first aid and to hand out food, remain on the quad. The encampment was raised April 29 along with dozens of others on campuses across the country. Like other campuses, the demonstrators at the encampment on SU have called on the university to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions.
Tuesday’s rally came in response to the Israeli military seizing Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a move the United Nations warned could disrupt aid to Palestinians, the Associated Press reported.
No counter protests were organized against the rally. SU encampment organizers on Tuesday again declined to speak with media.
At times, the encampment has been the site of contentious confrontations between demonstrators and counter-protesters over the last week.
On Sunday, the president of the Syracuse Jewish Parents Council was arrested after university officials said he threw food, moved encampment signs and began to “berate” students.
On Saturday, a person not affiliated with SU reportedly punched a student after demonstrators marched from Walnut Park to campus in support of those in the encampment. The person reportedly made a Nazi salute toward a group of students, university officials said.
Earlier Saturday, a small group of pro-Israeli students launched a counter protest against those marching.
More than 34,000 people have died in Gaza, a small strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea during Israel’s attempt to dislodge the leadership of Hamas, the extremist group governing the territory.
Fighters from Hamas and other groups launched a surprise attack last October on southern Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking roughly 200 hostages of varying nationalities.
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at [email protected].
