Global Conflict in Gaza: The University Demonstrations Perceived as a Challenge to the International System
As a grad from the University of Toronto, I recently pitched a tent at their student encampment, rallying for the school to divulge its financial dealings, disconnect from Israeli universities, and sell off ties to apartheid, occupation, and illegal settlements.
Marching towards the protest, I was struck by the familiar feeling that had slapped me 18 days at Egypt's Tahrir Square, during the 2011 uprising that saw the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. Witnessing the highs and lows of the Egyptian revolution, from demonstrations on 25 January to the 3 July coup, I couldn't help but see the current students and countless others across North America, fueling a powerful sense of déjà vu.
As one sharp X (formerly Twitter) user succinctly put it: "Protests achieve nothing' and 'We must violently suppress all protests' are contradictory positions. If protests truly accomplish nothing, then allow them to be. If they have the power to spawn change, then squelching them is a patently authoritarian act."
Indeed, protests possess the power to catalyze transformation, as was evident throughout the Arab Spring, where citizens across the Middle East and North Africa spoke up for freedom and dignity after decades of political repression.
In light of entrenched powers such as military governments, regional puppeteers, and international actors eager to snuff out the democratic flame, Egypt's revolutionary aspirations were brutally stifled.
The determination to quash protests often stems from fear—fear of the movement's capacity to challenge the status quo and bring about significant change. As such, suppression becomes the preferred tool of those in power, bent on preserving their privilege.
Enterprising students advocating for divestment and solidarity with Palestine on campuses across North America are all too aware of the risks. The movement, ignited by discontent over US support for Gaza's genocide and Israeli occupation, has weathered a backlash, transforming into a larger battle for civil liberties.
Born of the fight for free expression, assembly, and a halt to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the movement has persevered, expanding across nearly 140 campuses in North America.
But why such a heavy-handed response from universities and law enforcement to these peaceful protests? What is at stake, and why is there so much tension surrounding these encampments?
Students and faculty are coming to recognize the link between what's unfolding in Gaza and the sway Zionist groups wield over universities, pushing for collaboration with Israel. These institutions hold multi-billion dollar endowment funds that support corporations involved in the Israeli military's ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Suppressing protests in North America, while backing Israeli violence in Gaza, has unpredictable ramifications for the global order. The rallying cry of "Free Palestine" stands as a rallying cry for global liberation from the chains of colonialism and Zionism, unifying those who yearn for a world where justice triumphs over oppression, and freedom transcends borders and powers structures.
The movement serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of resistance, illuminating the path towards a more just world.
The opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily mirror the views of Middle East Eye.
- The student encampment in North America, rallying for the university to disconnect from Israeli universities and divest from ties to apartheid, occupation, and illegal settlements, is reminiscent of the Egyptian revolution during the Arab Spring.
- In the Middle East and North Africa, protests during the Arab Spring demonstrated the power of citizens to catalyze transformation, speaking up for freedom and dignity after decades of political repression.
- Enterprising students in North America, advocating for divestment and solidarity with Palestine, recognize the risks involved in challenging the status quo and potential for significant change.
- The movement for free expression, assembly, and a halt to the ongoing genocide in Gaza has increased in size, expanding across nearly 140 campuses in North America.
- Universities and law enforcement have responded heavily to these peaceful protests, linking the fight for justice in Palestine to the sway Zionist groups have over universities and the funds they hold that support corporations involved in the Israeli military's conflict in Gaza.
- Suppression of protests in North America, while backing Israeli violence in Gaza, has unpredictable ramifications for the global order, as the rallying cry of "Free Palestine" stands as a unifying force for global liberation from the chains of colonialism and Zionism.
