A group of around 50 students gathered at George Washington University to hold a vigil for Palestinian “martyrs.” One organizer claimed the Hamas attacks were “not unprovoked.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nearly everyone at a pro-Palestinian vigil supporting Hamas’ surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians hid their faces with masks Tuesday night and refused to reveal their names. “We are here today to honor our martyrs and to honor the struggle for liberation that they made the ultimate sacrifice for,” a vigil organizer told the crowd of students. “Our resistance fighters are defying Zionist intelligence as we speak, exposing the cracks and its ironclad foundation and dispelling the illusion of its invincibility.”
About 50 people attended a Students for Justice in Palestine at George Washington University event, “Vigil for the Martyrs of Palestine,” and were encouraged to bring flowers, signs and face coverings. The group handed out masks at the event to help attendees disguise their identities. “Glory to our martyrs, each and every one,” the speaker, who refused to share his name, continued. “May they attain the highest level of paradise.”
Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel Saturday, killing more than 1,200 Israelis, including elderly civilians, women and children, and taking others hostage. Israeli villages near the Gaza border have been massacred, with “a lot of men, women and children” beheaded, according to Israel Defense Forces commander. Israel declared war against Hamas in response and has launched retaliatory strikes against Gaza.
“Over the past few days, the Zionist entity has rained and continues to rain down bombs and missiles on Gaza, indiscriminately targeting men, women and children, slaughtering entire families,” the speaker told the crowd. “Over 900 of our people have ascended to martyrdom.”
As of Wednesday, at least 1,100 people, including 326 children, have been killed by Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. “They call us savages, barbarians, terrorists, but we know who the real terrorists are,” the student speaker said.
A reporter was repeatedly interrupted while trying to interview attendees. It’s unclear whether they were organizers or other attendees since they refused to identify themselves. The event organizers instructed the crowd against speaking to the media and told them to direct the press to speak with the vigil leaders. But the vigil leaders declined interview requests and refused to answer questions.
“It just appalls me, the amount of violence on both sides,” Sami, a student who overheard but did not attend the vigil, told. “I’ve seen Palestinian children get burned alive. Seen videos of rape, of murder of [Israeli] civilians by Hamas.”
“My personal belief, it’s a radical belief among many, but you need to end the Israeli state as we know it,” he continued. “And we need a binational state that has equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis within the area we know as Israel.”
The Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at colleges across the country have been organizing similar pro-Palestine events that are set to take place later this week.
This article highlights a pro-Palestinian vigil held by students at George Washington University. The vigil sparked controversy as the attendees supported Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians. The organizers and attendees hid their identities and refused to speak to the media. The article also mentions the ongoing violence between Israel and Gaza, with casualties reported on both sides. The event has further fueled the debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
