University of Washington (UW) students recently faced backlash over plans to establish a "Gaza Camp" on campus, aimed at protesting against Israel's conflict with Hamas and Zionism.
The event, initially scheduled for Thursday morning, was postponed following criticism that it lacked sufficient Arab or Muslim leadership.
The call for a "UW Palestine encampment" was made via social media, with the aim of ending Zionism on campus. However, the post soon attracted criticism from other activists. Comments included questions about whether Palestinian organizations or students had been consulted about the encampment, and concerns about the apparent lack of Arab or Muslim leadership. One comment read, "This is the only page I have seen this posted, which leads me to believe that no other orgs endorse this action. This is dangerous and weird to be honest."
In response to the criticism, the activists announced a postponement of the camp, stating their intention to ensure the encampment better reflected the UW community and fostered greater unity with Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students.
The student activists' original demands included calls for UW to end US aid to Israel, sever ties with Boeing, and divest from and materially cut ties with Israel. They also called for an end to the Jewish state of Israel.
The UW campus has seen a surge in anti-Israel sentiment and aggression against Jewish students following the massacre of over 1,200 civilians by Hamas on October 7, and the subsequent kidnapping of 250 more. Rallies in support of Hamas, vigils for terrorists, and "teach-ins" promoting terrorist narratives have been held by students and faculty.
In December, activists disrupted the campus menorah lighting on the first night of Hannukah and occupied the administration building. No charges were pursued against the activists. The US Department of Education is currently investigating UW for antisemitism.
On Tuesday, hundreds of students in the Puget Sound area walked off campuses in support of Hamas. The walk-out was sponsored by the Seattle chapter of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a group advocating for the release of convicted terrorists from prison. The group, which has direct ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization, has been banned in Germany for its support of terrorist organizations, including Hamas.
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