# International protests on university campuses against the Israel-Hamas war

The International protests on university campuses against the Israel-Hamas war refers to a series of demonstrations that began in the United States and spread globally. These protests, initiated by students and faculty members, were in response to the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023. The protesters primarily demanded their universities to divest from corporations profiting from the war and to cut ties with Israel.
The movement gained momentum after mass arrests at Columbia University's campus occupation, leading to similar protests in other countries. As of April 30, 2024, over 1,400 protesters, including faculty members, have been arrested on more than 25 U.S. campuses. The protests have also sparked a wave of similar demonstrations in the Middle East, Europe, and Australia, with students expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and calling for an end to the war.

## Background

The Israel-Hamas war, which began with an attack on Israel led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has sparked a wave of protests across university campuses worldwide. These protests, initially concentrated in the United States, have since spread globally, with students expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and calling for their universities to divest from companies doing business with Israel. Student movements have played a significant role in voicing opposition to the war and have been instrumental in bringing attention to the issue. The protests have been marked by a spirit of international solidarity, with students around the world inspired by the actions of their peers in other countries.

## Countries
### Australia

Australian students, like demonstrators on campuses in the US, the students are calling for their universities to cut ties with Israel.

### United States

The protests began in the United States on April 17, 2024, following mass arrests at the Columbia University campus occupation. The protesters demanded the university's disinvestment from Israel. As of April 30, over 1,400 protesters, including faculty members, have been arrested on more than 25 U.S. campuses. Many of the protests involve student demands that their schools sever financial ties to Israel and companies involved in the conflict, as well as an end to U.S. military support for Israel, as part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Some protests have also demanded that the universities sever academic ties with Israel, support a ceasefire in Gaza, and disclose investments.

### Lebanon

In Lebanon, students from multiple universities, including the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University, joined the protests. At the American University of Beirut, approximately 150 protesters gathered in the rain outside an administration building, unfurling a giant Palestinian flag and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of Palestine. The protests were held under tight security measures, with entry to the campus restricted to those with valid faculty or student identification cards. Those who were barred held another protest outside the university’s gates.

## Responses

The responses to these protests have been varied. Some university administrations have allowed the protests to continue, while others have taken disciplinary action against the protesters. In some cases, students have been suspended, put on probation, and even expelled from their colleges.