Dating back over a century, the Palestine-Israel conflict is not new. Some may believe this war sparked in October 2023 following Hamas’ attack on Israel. In reality, this scene began to unravel far before that.
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group, established in 1987, in response to the First Intifada. Despite this group’s activities, Palestine does not have an established military compared to Israel. Titled the Nakba in Arabic, or “Catastrophe” in English, the term refers to the mass displacement of the Palestinian people following a series of wars that ended up moving thousands of Palestinians out of their homes.
While the devastation in Gaza is undeniable, it is equally important to recognize the loss of innocent lives in Israel. Every death in this conflict, whether they are Israeli or Palestinian, is a tragedy, and the hope for a lasting ceasefire remains a shared plea for humanity.
For the past two years, this devastating war has reached a fever pitch, where over 67,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Israelis have been killed. This war has resulted in mass genocide, widespread starvation and numerous war crimes against humanity. The four mass atrocity crimes have been continuing, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The bombing of hospitals and residential areas, the murder of children and newborns as well as the condemnation by the United Nations, proves that Israel’s actions have crossed an irrefutable line. As a nation, as a campus, we must be implored to support the right of people to live, to live fully and by all means to live in a safe environment.
In the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s attempts to silence Palestinian voices, such as detaining students during the encampment in late April and May of 2024, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s decision to authorize the University of Wisconsin Police Department to raid the protest divulged a gross overstep to suppress student voices and eliminate peaceful protest. Mnookin defended her decision, saying if “Anti-Black Lives Matter” groups wanted to protest, they would have to be prepared to allow that as well. However, this is simply untrue. As the chief representative of this university, of our collective belief in the right to live peacefully, if you choose violence to combat violence, what is left? If you cannot stand to choose the right side, the peaceful side of history, what is the point?
Although Mnookin shared her views as an administrator, it’s hard to accept the fact that someone entrusted with our care chooses to so blatantly disregard our very right to live. Because being pro-Palestine doesn’t negate Israeli people. It does not mean we are anti-Israel. It simply means we would like to live with the same breadth of freedom and choice as they do — that we would like an equal platform that supports our right to be alive.
When we confuse a pleading voice for violent rhetoric, that is when we have lost humanity. Confusing the right of Palestinian people to live safe from conflict for anti-Israeli propaganda is the wrong idea. This is not a Jewish versus Muslim argument, or an Israeli versus Palestinian op-ed. It is a human and human equity argument, a plea more like, to respect your neighbors — your fellow human beings. It’s to speak up for the destruction that we as a population of people are enduring.
As students, we have the power and privilege of speaking out. While we may not carry weapons of war or authorities of government, we are the future generation of changemakers, leaders and thinkers. This starts here. We must spread awareness of the harsh realities many in Gaza are facing. Children scrape burnt, old food out of the bottom of rusted pans for a morsel of nutrients. Children losing limbs in the crossfire before reaching puberty.
Then, turn this awareness into action, and mobilize groups to come together and speak out. Speak for those who have been silenced. Organize peaceful demonstrations, and hold this administration accountable for its complicity. Most importantly, we must support the plight of the Palestinian students on campus who are being directly targeted by this conflict.
Overall, we must speak out, stay informed and lead with empathy. This is the very purpose of higher education: to develop ourselves as strong beings so we can lead ourselves into the world with integrity, honesty and immutable compassion. The hope for a ceasefire and lasting peace is not a political stance, it is a human one.
Safa Razvi is a sophomore studying journalism and serves as the Opinion Editor for The Daily Cardinal. Do you believe the right to live freely is not a political issue? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
