Luís Millan, online publishing coordinator

Details on the Israel-Hamas war are being released almost hourly, and people across the world are witnessing first hand accounts of civilians living in Gaza. Protests have been ongoing for many years and groups such as the Anti War Committee have been drawing attention to Israel’s treatment of Gaza. After Israel’s declaration of war, there has been a spike in protests both within the US and everywhere else in the world. 

The Israel-Palestine conflict has progressed rapidly in the Gaza strip. As of Oct. 28, the citizens of Gaza have faced not only consistent bombing and attacks from Israeli soldiers stationed at the border, they are now experiencing power outages across the city leaving many civilians without electricity or internet access. According to NBC News, this is affecting the response time of medical services and emergency relief efforts. 

In the U.S. alone, there’s been dozens of demonstrations and hundreds of thousands of Americans gathering together to demand a ceasefire. According to CBS News, Jewish Voice for Peace (a Jewish anti-Zionist organization) organized a protest in support of Palestine Crowds gathered in the Capitol Hill Cannon Building Rotund on Oct. 19. Chants such as “Let Gaza Live” and “Not in My Name,” echoed in the capitol walls. Signs demanded for Israel to stop its attack on the Gaza strip and ceasefire. Capitol police told protestors to stop their demonstration, claiming it was illegal. Protestors refused to leave, showing their dedication to have their demands be met. That night, over 300 protestors were arrested for illegal demonstration. 

Students from schools all across the US have also walked out in support of Palestine, demanding a ceasefire and to stop military aid and resources from being sent to the Israeli troops. According to Berkeleyside, Berkeley students held a massive demonstration on Oct. 25 to demand the university to support Palestinians. “We denounce the one-sided and dehumanizing narratives parroted by politicians, corporations and institutions, including UC Berkeley and especially Berkeley Law School, regarding the genocide of the people of Gaza,” stated Abo Emad, a UC Berkley student who attended the rally. 

Augsburg students have also been participating in protests, with one taking place on campus on Nov. 1. Students gathered in the lobby of Christensen Center to demonstrate by holding signs, leading each other in chants and laying on the ground under “bloodied” tarps to represent the Palestinians who have been killed in attacks from Israel.

Across the world, protests have gone strong in support of Palestine, letting civilians know that the world will not let this go ignored. According to CNN, on Oct. 29, thousands of protestors in the UK marched the streets of London. One woman told Reuters, “I want a ceasefire. I want peace for the people of Gaza. Over the last few days, [a] couple of weeks, I’ve just watched so many babies and children dying.” According to AIjazeera, in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel publicly, and many Turkish political figures have joined the marches in support of Palestine. 

As of Monday, Israel has not ceased fire on the Gaza strip. In a press conference with international reporters, Benjamin Netenyahu, the prime minister of Israel stated to NPR News, “Just as the United States would not agree to a cease-fire after Pearl Harbor […] Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas[…].” Hospitals full of patients and civilians are trapped behind rubble, yet Israel is still urging Palestinians within North Gaza to leave the area as their war with Hamas rages on.