The reality now facing us is that Gaza has shifted the global perspective on the Palestinian cause, introducing a new dynamics that was previously unseen. This has also exposed the fallacy of American claims to promote democracy worldwide, as demonstrated in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In fact, the US is adopting tactics typically associated with developing countries. According to the AP news agency, over 2,000 individuals have been arrested for showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, with arrests occurring across 25 university campuses in 30 states since April 18. The peak of these arrests took place on April 30, when New York City police raided Columbia University and detained numerous students supporting Palestine. These individuals were calling for an end to the Gaza conflict and advocating for economic and academic boycott of Israel, including several American universities.
Recent statistics from the Associated Press indicate that at least 200 people were arrested at the University of California, Los Angeles on Thursday. The number of arrests continues to rise.
American police used force to remove protesters and journalists around Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, which the protesters had renamed 'Hind Hall' in honour of a six-year-old Palestinian girl who died in the Israeli-Gaza war. The operation lasted for three hours, as reported by a police spokesperson. During the incident, students chanted slogans like 'Free Palestine' and 'Shame, shame' while calling for the release of their detained peers.
The use of violence by the American police to disperse sympathizers of Gaza at these sit-ins prompted Volker Türk, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, to express concern about the aggressive tactics used by US security forces. Türk emphasised that "legitimate expressions of freedom of speech should not be mistaken for incitement to violence and hate," marking a new development in this situation.
The situation at Columbia University may have ended in tragedy, but the events that transpired at Brown University in America were quite different. In a groundbreaking move, the university announced that it had reached an agreement with a group of students who were protesting against the war in Gaza. The agreement stated that the protesting students would dismantle their camp on the university campus, in exchange for a commitment from the university to reassess its relationships with companies associated with Israel. This agreement led the protesting students to end their demonstration and remove their camp, with the understanding that five students would have the opportunity to meet with five members of the Brown University Foundation to present their arguments for divesting from companies involved in the Gaza conflict. This gesture by the university administration is a significant concession to the student protest movement.
Not long ago, the Palestinian cause was not well-known among the American public due to the influence of the Zionist lobby over various media platforms, such as radio, newspapers, television, and cinema. This lobby also wields influence over American decision-making processes by controlling Congress and other governing bodies. However, thanks to the "Al-Aqsa Flood," awareness of the Palestinian issue has increased within American academic institutions. Slogans like "Free Palestine" and "Expose and boycott companies supporting Israel" have gained traction. This shift is indicative of what lies ahead.
According to Professor David Palumbo Liu from Stanford University, many young Americans now view standing up for Palestine as a significant moral challenge for the world. This sentiment is echoed by American philosopher, writer, and human rights activist Angela Davis, who believes that solidarity with Gaza has fuelled the protest movement in American universities. The arrest of students at Columbia University, followed by their punishment at the hands of the New York Police summoned by Columbia University President Nemat Shafik, served as a catalyst for intensified demonstrations and encouraged student bodies at other universities to join the cause. The movement against Israeli aggression in Gaza garnered support both within and outside universities, leading to broader engagement in the protests. Many faculty and staff at Columbia, including professors, criticised the decision to arrest the students. Hundreds of them staged a protest, holding signs in support of the student sit-ins and calling for an end to sanctions against them.
Columbia University President Nemat Shafik's decision to involve police in handling the protests, possibly influenced by her Middle Eastern background, resulted in the first entry of law enforcement onto the campus in 50 years, as per her own statement. This action served as a catalyst for the Palestinian cause, igniting similar movements in other American universities. Such heavy-handed security measures, not typically seen in governments claiming to represent the "free world," equate the American invasion at Columbia University with invasions in underdeveloped "Third World" nations.
The student uprisings at Columbia University and the widespread arrests at other American universities mark a significant moment in modern American history. This signifies a message that suppressing freedom of expression, which Palestinian supporters have experienced since the war began last October, is permissible.
Despite being peaceful, the student sit-ins were met with crackdowns, leading to a questioning of Israel's interests. These events beg the question: where is the substantial Arab money in America, and what impact does it hold for the Palestinian cause? The sit-ins at prestigious universities highlighted their reliance on funding from Jewish donors who support Israel and Zionism.
According to a CNN report, Jewish donors at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania threatened to cut ties with the schools in response to what they deemed as "anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric" on campus. Some donors have already withdrawn support, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn the protests and label the students as "anti-Semitic mobs" in a tweet. This overlooks the fact that many of the protesting students are Jewish themselves, with some even displaying their Jewish identity through clothing, according to the Al Jazeera.net report.
The American administration exhibited a clear bias, as the activities of Israeli students were treated differently from those of pro-Palestine students. While the universities focused on protecting and supporting Israeli students, pro-Palestine students were unfairly portrayed as a threat to university security, as criticised by opponents of the movement.
The Al-Aqsa Flood represents a powerful momentum for the Palestinian cause, surpassing countless speeches made in its support over the years. The sit-ins have spread to major international cities like Paris and London, prompting the question of how Palestinians can leverage this momentum. A crucial issue that arises is the absence of Arabs on the global stage, highlighting missed opportunities for investment and involvement in this movement.
(The article is translated by Badr al Dhafari and the original version of the article was published in Arabic in Oman newspaper on May 5)
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