Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan made shocking claims in a speech to the General Assembly, accusing Hamas of hiding in America’s “elite universities” amidst the pro-Palestinian protests sweeping across US campuses.
Erdan went on to label the peaceful protests as “calls for Israel’s destruction” and likened the protesters to “murderous mobs” exhibiting “Nazi-like behavior”. The Israeli diplomat even implied that the US protesters were aligned with Hamas, prompting concerns of inciting violence against the demonstrators.
Israel’s aggressive response to any criticism of its actions in Gaza was further highlighted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent accusation against the International Criminal Court of committing “an antisemitic hate crime”. Erdan did not shy away from attacking the UN itself in his speech, criticizing its support for Palestinian statehood as rewarding “child-murdering Hamas rapists”.
The crackdown on the peaceful campus protests by US police forces, including violent dispersals and arrests, has added fuel to the fire. Erdan’s attempt to draw parallels between the protesters and Hamas is troubling, especially in light of attacks by pro-Israel counter-protesters on the encampments.
Despite the accusations of violence and antisemitism against the protesters, observers at the demonstrations have consistently reported a peaceful atmosphere. The students are advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging their universities to divest from Israel and Israeli-linked companies.
President Joe Biden’s recent remarks condemning the protests as “lawless” and calling for “order” to be restored reflect the growing tension surrounding the issue. The clash between supporting Palestinian rights and defending Israeli actions has sparked a nationwide debate, with activists determined to make their voices heard.