In a wave of ongoing turmoil, universities across the United States are witnessing student protests as charges are faced, new encampments arise, and some colleges opt for online learning. The latest demand shared by students at numerous colleges is for their schools to cease doing business with Israel or any companies supporting its ongoing war in Gaza.

This demand stems from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has gained momentum as the Israel-Hamas conflict surpasses six months. The growing international calls for a ceasefire, coupled with stories of suffering in Gaza, have fueled the movement's new strength.

Inspired by recent protests and the arrest of over 100 students at Columbia University, hundreds of students from Massachusetts to California are now converging on campuses, setting up tent camps, and pledging to remain until their demands are met.
Mahmoud Khalil, the protest leader at Columbia, expressed the need for visibility, highlighting the long-standing push by students for the university to divest from Israel. He emphasized the urgency of their request, referring to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as genocide.

The campus protests were initially triggered by Hamas' deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the loss of around 1,200 lives, mostly civilians, and the abduction of nearly 250 people. In response, Israel's actions during the war have led to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry. Although the ministry does not distinguish between combatants and noncombatants, it estimates that at least two-thirds of the casualties are children and women.

As these protests continue to gain momentum, universities face the challenge of responding to the unified demand for divestment from Israel. The calls for action on campuses echo international concerns over the lasting impact and humanitarian toll of the Israel-Hamas conflict.