Students cited international law and human rights violations as they joined a nationwide wave of demonstrations calling for lasting peace in Gaza.
Aniela Cabrera | Staff Writer
On Thursday, October 9th, students gathered on the Graham Center Lawns to protest for Palestine. The estimated 40 protesters drew attention from onlookers passing by as well as those shopping at the bi-weekly Farmer’s Market. The event was organized by FIU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA).
Joselyn Pena, an environmental studies student and member of YDSA, said, “Even though as of this morning, a permanent cease fire is being reached by both parties, this is not enough, and our demand is, a free Palestine and self-determination to Palestinian peoples.. there’s also a lot of flotillas that are being attacked by Israeli forces and against international law.”
Multiple flotillas carrying aid to Gaza have been intercepted despite multiple clauses in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that seemingly prohibit such actions. The flotillas have been intercepted roughly 80-45 nautical miles offshore. Article 88 of UNCLOS stipulates that the high seas are for peaceful purposes, and section 3 governs peaceful passage.
Lael Lich, a PhD student, said, “I am Jewish myself. I was raised zionist. I understand to some degree how difficult it is to get out of that mindset, but I think it’s incredibly important that we continue to recognize the humanity of Palestinian people and that militaristic ethnic states like Israel do not keep Jewish people safe.”
A spectating group of students displayed an Israeli flag and stated they were just “hanging out” with no further comments. Ethan Bazak, an International Relations student, was part of the group. “We were just hanging out, and we saw the commotion,” Bazek said. “We strongly disagree with the commotion.”
Bazak also said, “It’s very disrespectful to the people of Palestine that are going through a tough war and the people in Israel [aswell]…to have kids that some of them have never been to the Middle East, their only source is either a university book or TikTok, and they’re here trying to lecture people on what’s going on in the Middle East when they’ve never been there.”
Carlton Daley, an engineering and physics major and leader of the protest, said, “We’ve seen this routine time and time again, where a ceasefire is proposed and we do not see the Israeli government or the American government genuinely and meaningfully in good faith, you know, respond and keep the ceasefire. You know, I am a generally optimistic person. I pray that the ceasefire will hold.”
Within the past two years of war, there have been multiple ceasefires created and rejected for the Hamas-Israel War, with a recent one being approved earlier this week.
Despite a ceasefire declared earlier this week, Israel attacked Gaza hours after agreeing to the deal.
It is also important to note that students have the right of free speech on college campuses, protected by the First Amendment.
About Post Author
