In the wake of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, American university campuses have seen a surge in demonstrations and expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. However, this widespread activism has left some residents of Gaza questioning the lack of similar protests in the Arab countries they have long considered allies.

While protests have emerged in Arab states, they have not reached the same scale or intensity as those witnessed in the United States. Many Palestinians in Gaza have expressed both admiration and sadness as they closely monitor the protests through social media, yearning for similar displays of support in Arab and Muslim nations.

Messages of gratitude from Gaza have adorned protest sites, with one tent in Rafah prominently displaying a message thanking students from prestigious institutions like Columbia University. While Arab countries have criticized Israel's military campaign, the magnitude of public protests seen in the US remains unmatched.

There are various reasons that may explain the relatively quiet response on Arab campuses and streets. Fear of antagonizing autocratic governments, political differences with Hamas and its Iranian supporters, and doubts regarding the effectiveness of protests in influencing state policies all play a role. Unlike American students who may face arrest or expulsion, Arab citizens protesting without state authorization may encounter even harsher repercussions.

This discrepancy in public reaction can also be attributed to the fact that the US government supports and arms Israel, while Arab countries, even those with diplomatic relations with Israel, have been openly critical of its military actions. The anger felt by Arabs across the region towards Israel's actions has led to subdued Ramadan celebrations and outbursts of support for Gaza on social media platforms.

Though some rallies in support of Palestinians have taken place, notably in Yemen where the Houthis have targeted shipping in the Red Sea, the majority of the Arab world has shown its solidarity through online platforms rather than taking to the streets.

This contrast between the US and Arab countries has sparked unfavorable comparisons among Gaza residents. Displaced by the war, Suha al-Kafarna urged Arab students to follow the lead of their American counterparts, lamenting the disparity of support.

In countries like Egypt, where public protests against Israel are largely prohibited, the authorities fear that demonstrations may escalate into anti-government movements. Egyptian state-sanctioned protests against the war last month saw arrests when some participants deviated from the agreed route and voiced anti-government slogans.

Fear appears to be a significant factor preventing many Arab citizens from publicly protesting, as the consequences of arrest are perceived to be more severe than in the US. In Lebanon, where political and economic crises have threatened prospects of a brighter future, students participating in campus protests declined to be interviewed, citing concerns of repercussions from university authorities.

Additionally, complex historical ties between Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestinian refugees may influence public protests. While some in Lebanon blame Palestinians for the civil war between 1975 and 1990, there are fears that overt support for Palestinians could be hijacked by Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been engaged in conflict with Israel since the start of the Gaza crisis.

Experts contend that factors such as power dynamics and differing approaches to changing public perception explain the disparity in protest participation between the Arab world and the US. It remains unclear what impact protests in Arab countries would have, given the already substantial backing of the Palestinian cause by Arab public opinion.

As the conflict continues, the divergence in public response to Gaza's plight raises questions about the role of protests in effecting change and underscores the challenges faced by individuals in the Arab world who wish to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause.