WASHINGTON, DC: A group of students at George Washington University has sparked waves of furious backlash after projecting messages praising Hamas militants as "martyrs" on their university library.
The students projected the large signs on the University's Gelman Library on the Washington DC campus while attending a pro-Palestinian vigil on October 24, supporting Hamas' surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians.
"Glory to Our Martyrs," one projected sign read while the second said, "GW the Blood of Palestinians is on Your Hands." "Your Tuition is Funding Genocide in Gaza," one more sign stated, according to Fox News.
The activist group StopAntisemitism shared the pictures of the signs on X (Twitter), saying 'We call on the President of George Washington University to immediately expel those involved.”
Later, the group released footage that appeared to show college police addressing the four students who had projected the image. 'We're not damaging any property... It's not physically on the side of the wall,' one of the students tells an officer, according to Daily Mail.
An officer then tells them that they are not going to argue with the students and tells them that they have been in front of the library for an hour.
GWU officials address horrifying Hamas attack
This isn't the first incident that has happened on the DC campus; on October 11, some students organized a "vigil" in remembrance of the "martyrs" of Hamas.
"The four students responsible for the pro-terrorist light show are now being confronted by police. They refuse to move and continue to argue with the police. Unbelievable," StopAntisemitism wrote on X.
Ellen Granberg, the president of GWU, stated in a letter following the October attack that the university will provide assistance to anyone affected by the turmoil.
"My message to our community stressed the importance of coming together and caring for one another, especially those who are Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, or connected to the region and this war," Granberg wrote.
"I also reiterated our university’s expectations for acting and comporting ourselves when discussing or debating difficult topics. These messages of compassion and understanding remain the foremost priority for this university,” she added.
Internet reacts to signs projected on GWU library
The signs projected by GWU students have garnered immense social media attention, with netizens slamming them for supporting the Hamas.
Among those who blasted the students was Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee who called on officials at the school to "do the right thing NOW."
"These are genocidal messages displayed on a building at George Washington University. If the students responsible for these messages aren't severely punished by GWU, something is terribly wrong. Genocide isn't hip, cute, or in any way acceptable. GWU—do the right thing NOW!," Lee wrote.
“Free Speech does not include posting trash like this on public buildings,” one X user tweeted. “you really ought to revisit your faculty choices, GWU. These are the values instilled into your student body,” a second one asserted.
“How the hell is that allowed? Does the school not have security?” the third user slammed while the fourth wrote “Oh wow, they actually went there re: martyrs....time for a clean sweep of the universities.”
“Glory to our Martys = thank you Hamas for killing innocent Jews. This is despicable and unacceptable,” the fifth user stated.
“Pro Palestinians calling what Israel is doing to protect its boarders “genocide” are explicitly calling for violence against Jews,” another user said. “The moral of the entire world is upside down,” another wrote.
What is the situation in Gaza?
Israel woke up to Hamas bombarding them with nearly 2000 missiles with parallel ground attacks on October 7 that resulted in the death of thousands of civilians.
Subsequently, Israel declared war on Hamas positions within Gaza strip, determined to root out the millitant group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to "leave Gaza," warning them that the Israeli army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.”
Since then, Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been running out of food, water and medicine since Israel sealed off the territory and laubched airstrikes.
On Tuesday, October 24, Israel launched 400 airstrikes and reported 320 strikes the day before, as per AP News, turning Gaza into a labyrinth of destroyed buildings and crumbled homes and an increasing death toll in thousands.
As per UN News, Gaza Ministry of Health indicates that the number of people killed in Gaza since October 7 has risen to 5,087, which includes children.
