Shouts of protest rang across Quarry Plaza on Wednesday, as protesters and counter-protesters sounded off on the Israeli/Gaza conflict.
The event, organized by the Committee for Justice in Palestine (CJP), rallied dozens of people for chanting, passionate public speaking and sign-carrying to raise awareness for the ongoing conflict that has claimed almost 1,300 Palestinian lives.
On the other side of the plaza, in sharp contrast, over 30 people stood in silence, holding Israeli flags and signs with slogans such as “Free Gaza From Hamas” and “Hamas, Stop Using Children As Human Shields.”
Nathan Zaru, a UC Santa Cruz fourth-year student, stood between the two groups. He is half-Palestinian and half-Jewish, but volunteered to stand as a crowd monitor for the event.
“Yes, there’s a ceasefire, but there’s still a blockade on Gaza. It’s an open-air prison. Both sides have their heads up their asses, but the massacre on Gaza will not stand,” Zaru said. “Today I am wearing Palestinian colors because Israel receives unjust and unfair support from the U.S.”
The cease-fire, which led the last of Israel’s troops to leave the Gaza strip early Wednesday, brought a shaky halt to the 23 days of violence following a reigniting of the decades-old conflict at the end of last year. Israel still holds a blockade on all traffic entering and exiting Gaza.
Eva Mata, a fourth-year student and one of the organizers of the event, emphasized that CJP had been advocating for Palestinian freedom for a long time, and that while the most recent conflict helped raise awareness, Israel and Palestine historically share a turbulent relationship.
“It’s a motivation to get people out here, to put a spotlight on the issue,” she said, adding that the conflict is far from over. “The ceasefire was merely a publicity stunt on behalf of Israel… for the inauguration of Barack Obama.”
Third-year student Shawn Harris, another organizer, echoed that the purpose behind the protest did not change with the newfound cease-fire.
“The purpose of the protest is for solidarity with the Gazans,” he said. “There is still a blockade, it’s still a serious humanitarian issue. We’re hoping to achieve a heightened sense of awareness on campus.”
Still, many onlookers felt the palpable tension in the air. Guy Oron, a fourth-year student, moved to the United States from Israel when he was 12. Standing with Harris, away from both sides of the protest, the two debated each side’s merits as the Israeli group started to pray softly.
“The reason that I’m standing in the middle is because I can’t fully agree with either side,” Oron said.
“There is a serious blockade, but it doesn’t make the situation an easy one,” Oron added. “It’s not as simple as ‘Lift the blockade, Free Gaza.’”
The group’s chanting, which varied from “Long live the Intifada” to “Viva Viva Palestina,” also was a source of tension.
“How can you be pro-peace and chant ‘Intifada, Intifada’?” Oron asked, referring to the Second Intifada, a term for the intensified violence between Israel and Palestine from 2000 to 2008. “I think there’s a throwing around of terms. All of these people walking around, accusing Israel of genocide…do you think they know what they’re saying?”
Ashley Glazebrook contributed to this story.
