A student organization at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. issued a statement that it “maintains unwavering support” for Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that launched a surprise attack on Israel.
The George Washington Students for Justice in Palestine issued a statement that it stood “in full support of the liberation” of its homeland and the people living in it.
Hamas launched a surprise invasion of Israel on Saturday, leading to thousands of rockets being launched and Hamas terrorists paragliding into a music festival near the Gaza Strip border. More than 250 people at the music festival were killed as a result.
Survivors from the music festival reported that women were raped next to the corpses of their friends, and then later killed, according to Marca News.
The organization was labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States government on October 1997, according to the State Department website.
In response to the attack, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas.
“GWU Students for Justice in Palestine maintains unwavering support for our people’s resistance, in all its forms,” the student organization wrote.
At @GWtweets, SJP “maintains unwavering support for our people’s resistance in all its forms.” pic.twitter.com/a2fQ44TI4n
— Abigail Jackson ?? (@abigailmarone) October 10, 2023
In 1947, the United Nations (UN) created Resolution 181, which divided the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. Years later, on May 14, 1948, Israel was created, leaving roughly 750,000 Palestinians displaced, according to the Council of Foreign Relations website.
The territory was then divided into three parts; the Gaza Strip, the State of Israel, and the West Bank.
Egypt held control over the Gaza Strip for almost two decades. In June 1967, Israel preemptively attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces, starting the Six-Day War. After this, Israel gained control over the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Hamas currently governs the Gaza Strip.
Gaza has been under an Israeli-enforced blockade, supported by Egypt since Hamas came into control. The blockade restricts certain goods from being imported such as electronics and computer parts.
“Every single act of resistance moves us closer to the liberation of our homeland,” the student organization continued. “We will never capitulate to the colonizer or his sympathizers and we stand firm and steadfast in support of our people’s right to resist.”
Since Hamas’ invasion of Israel, more than 900 Israelis are reported to be dead. Over 100 people have been taken hostage by Hamas, including children and the elderly, according to The Times of Israel.
As journalists were allowed into Kfar Aza, an Israeli kibbutz, a reporter from i24News showed video footage of the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on the village. Israeli soldiers said they saw babies with “their heads cut off” and “families gunned down.”
“These events have only reaffirmed what every Palestinian knows deeply,” the student group added. “That we will see a liberated Palestine, within our lifetimes. The settler colony will fall, our land will be liberated, and we will return to our homes again.”
IJR reached out to George Washington University for a statement but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
