Princeton faculty go on hunger strike in support of Gaza

TEHRAN, (MNA) – More than 12 faculty members have decided to join the hunger strike with their students at Princeton University in solidarity with Gaza.

In a joint statement, the faculty members said, “Our daylong solidarity fast pales in comparison to the efforts of our students who are undertaking this strike to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza and the West Bank, who are being subjected to a forced famine and genocidal assault by Israel."

According to Al Mayadeen, the students are on hunger strike until the university agrees to discuss divestment and academic and cultural boycott of "Israel" as they also want Princeton to drop all criminal and disciplinary action against those participating and to reverse all campus bans and evictions of students.

“We urge the University Administration to engage in good faith negotiations with student and faculty representatives and consider the urgent need to divest from Israel until such time as it ceases its genocidal war against the Palestinian people of Gaza and until Israel comes into compliance with international law and ends its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and other Palestinian lands. We also urge the University Administration to grant complete amnesty to any students, faculty, staff, and community members facing disciplinary action for engaging in peaceful protests,” the statement continued.

The letter also highlighted the fear by faculty members of the University's retaliation for voicing their “deeply held moral beliefs and concern for their students’ well-being.”

Pro-Palestine protests have swept university campuses across the United States, with calls for the alienation from "Israel" or Israeli-affiliated institutions.

As student protests and movements increasingly gained momentum, hundreds of arrests were made as police tried to thwart their efforts, and the government mobilized to introduce legislation that would ultimately punish those participating. 

Israeli lobbyists and the Israeli government are relentlessly pressuring US government officials to take more action against such movements in an effort to silence the criticism targeted toward "Israel" and demands to divest from the occupation.

Despite their efforts, the actions of lobbies and governments are proving futile as universities across the United States are beginning to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.