The young men, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmad, all 20 years old and graduates of the Ramallah Friends School in the occupied West Bank, were targeted because they were wearing keffiyehs and speaking Arabic at the time of the attack.

The shooting took place on Saturday and resulted in two of the students being hospitalized. Hisham Awartani, who was shot in the spine, may never regain the ability to walk again. The third student, Tahseen Ahmad, is also receiving medical treatment. The perpetrator, identified as 48-year-old Jason Eaton, has been charged with three counts of second-degree attempted murder and is currently being held without bail. The FBI is investigating whether the incident should be classified as a hate crime.

This incident comes just weeks after the tragic murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy near Chicago by his landlord, further heightening concerns about the safety and well-being of Palestinian individuals in the United States.

The family members of the injured students expressed their deep sorrow and anger at the incident. Tamara Tamimi, the mother of Kinnan Abdalhamid, attributed the attack to decades of dehumanizing policies and rhetoric towards Palestinians and Arabs, including those coming from the Biden administration.

During a news conference held at Burlington City Hall, Rich Price, the uncle of Hisham Awartani, emphasized the incredible potential and bright futures of the three young men. However, he also spoke of the tragic irony of such an incident happening in a place where he had believed the community to be welcoming and inclusive.

The Palestinian community, as well as solidarity groups and local activists, have voiced their concerns about the rising atmosphere of hate and xenophobia that led to this crime. They point to the need for a recognition of this incident as a hate crime and the urgent necessity for stronger resolutions and support from local leaders to stand against such acts of violence.

Meanwhile, Joyce Ajlouny, former director of the Ramallah Friends School, provided insight into the strong academic and value-driven education the three young men received at the school. She shared powerful poems written by Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ahmad when they were in sixth grade, highlighting their hopes for a better future and their desire for justice.

The families of the victims are making plans to travel to Vermont to be with their injured loved ones. This tragedy has once again highlighted the ongoing struggles and dehumanization faced by Palestinians, both in their homeland and abroad.

As investigations continue, it is hoped that justice will be served and that this incident will serve as a wake-up call to address the rising tide of hate and discrimination in the United States.