US Students Commence Hunger Strike to Protest Alleged Starvation in Gaza by ‘israel’

The initiative spearheaded by students seeks to highlight the efforts by Trump administration in targeting pro-Palestinian students who advocate for human rights.

Students from Yale University, along with those from four California State universities—Long Beach, San Jose State, Sacramento State, and San Francisco State—have come together to launch a unified hunger strike.

The students are calling for a full divestment from companies involved in what they describe as the Israeli regime’s genocidal actions, the termination of university collaborations with Israeli institutions, and the safeguarding of free speech on campus.

At Yale University, a group comprising six members of Yalies4Palestine—five current undergraduates and one recent graduate—has pledged to persist with a hunger strike until their demands are addressed by the institution.

The group’s demands encompass divestment from weapons manufacturers, a commitment to refrain from penalizing student protesters, and the cessation of initiatives that finance students’ travel to territories under Israeli occupation in Palestine.

The students have announced their decision to abstain from consuming anything other than water until Yale University agrees to their specified list of demands.

A representative of the hunger-striking group expressed their solidarity with Gaza, emphasizing that many children and families are facing starvation. They also stand with students nationwide who are participating in hunger strikes, the spokesperson informed the News.

The hunger strikers revealed to local media that they initiated their protest in support of 25 students from California State Universities, who embarked on a hunger strike beginning May 5.

Yale University representative Karen Peart expressed the institution’s concern for the health and wellbeing of its students, emphasizing its strong commitment to maintaining the right to free expression.

She highlighted that engaging in a hunger strike as a means of peaceful demonstration complies with University regulations.

In the Netherlands, students have established a camp at Utrecht University, urging the institution to sever its financial ties with Israeli entities. The encampment has been named in honor of the late Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat.

This development coincides with the ongoing efforts by Trump’s administration to intensify measures against pro-Palestine activism. Additionally, thousands of international students have been singled out for deportation due to minor infractions and arrests.

Since October 2023, Israeli military actions have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 52,800 individuals in Gaza.

It initiated a large-scale offensive on Gaza, accompanied by a comprehensive blockade, following Hamas’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This operation came in retaliation to the increased actions by Zionist regime forces against Palestinians.

In January, Israel was compelled to enter into a ceasefire agreement with Hamas after failing to accomplish key objectives, such as dismantling the Palestinian resistance movement or securing the release of captives.

Israel halted the delivery of food, medical supplies, and other forms of aid to the 2.3 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip on March 2. This action occurred just two weeks ahead of the breakdown of the two-month ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

In the last 24 hours, US-manufactured Israeli bombs, missiles, and drones have resulted in the deaths of 100 individuals, as these munitions targeted residential homes, commercial establishments, apartment complexes, and makeshift shelters accommodating displaced Palestinians.