From Gaza to Mexico: Students United in Protest for Palestine

Nora was taken aback when the uprising broke out in Gaza. She had left the region years ago due to the Israeli occupation, settling in California where she studied economics and married Omar. For over 20 years, she had not set foot in Gaza, but when Israeli bombings began on her parents’ homeland, she felt a deep impact. Many of her relatives died in the offensive that had already claimed 35,000 lives.

The world watched these events with a mix of emotions, including sadness, anger, and indifference. In the United States, students took action by occupying their universities and organizing protests reminiscent of those from the Vietnam War era. However, police cracked down on them, leading to expulsions from universities. Meanwhile, Nora found herself in Mexico visiting a friend while the largest student uprising in recent years took place at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

At UNAM, students gathered to demand an end to the imperialist genocide in Gaza and the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Israel. The camp began with over 40 tents and around a hundred people from both Arab and Jewish backgrounds. Nora was among the first to arrive and witness the solidarity among students who shared her sentiments towards Palestine.

University protests in solidarity with Palestine spread across the United States, leading to arrests and clashes with police. The images made headlines globally as protesters demanded an end to genocide in Gaza and breaking ties with Israel. The flame of protest reached Mexico as UNAM students joined the cause. The demand for action resonated strongly among student protesters who believed that their collective voices could make a difference even though change might not happen overnight.

As time passed by at UNAM, students like Nora continued working towards creating a space for dialogue and action within Mexican society aimed at ending genocide in Gaza and breaking ties with Israel