Some students at University California, Riverside are speaking out after dozens of Palestinian flags appeared on campus Wednesday. It is unclear who placed the flags on the UCR’s campus or what message the person(s) who set them out are hoping to send.
Several UCR students reached out to KTLA regarding Palestinian flags on the lawn on campus and say they feel unsafe and uneasy and they can feel tensions rising.
“Seeing those flags out isn’t a big deal, compared to like if they want to perceive a message of pro-Palestine then it’s totally ok, but if it’s a message of pro-Hamas it could be totally different,” said a student, who asked to not be named, who is part of UCR’s Hillel Group, a Jewish organization supporting Jewish students and their peers. “Putting a message out that they’re ok with Hamas and what they’re doing.”
Many people condemn Saturday’s violent attack, but in reference to the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine, there are varied opinions. One Palestinian student condemns the violence but says his people have been oppressed for years.
“It’s like very bad for both sides, but what people fail to understand and what western media fails to portray is that my people have been oppressed for a very long time and when they’re constantly ignored,” said Adrian Adi. “I don’t condone violence on both sides, but it’s semi understandable what’s going on.”
Is its day five of the war that was waged by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group in Gaza that attacked Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking many others hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Hamas has even beheaded soldiers and raped women.
He said out of retribution, he vowed to “crush and destroy” Hamas, responding with a deadly counterattack. The war has claimed 2300 lives on both sides and counting, including civilians and children.
Many people locally are feeling the effects of what’s happening overseas. Families have lost loved ones from Saturday’s gruesome attack and others are desperate for answers after learning that Hamas has taken some of their loved ones hostage. Similarly at UCR, students are directly impacted.
“A lot of our students have family in Palestine,” said Omar Aziz, UCR Middle Eastern Student Center director. “I’ve had students tell me that they’ve lost loved ones from the bombing campaigns and that there’s a real sense of fear and hurt and anxiety from our student population”
UCR has not responded to KTLA’s specific questions, but they do say they have counseling resources for students and staff.
