Hundreds of Harvard students have staged a ‘die-in’ protest at the prestigious university to express their support for Palestine.
Members of Harvard’s “Palestine Solidarity Committee” and “Graduates 4 Palestine” organizations held the protest in response to the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City which has killed hundreds of people.
Scores of protesters, some with Palestinian flags, filled up one side of a bridge as they walked over the Charles River.
Demonstrators chanted “Free, free Palestine” as they marched from outside University President Claudine Gay’s office in Massachusetts Hall to Klarman Hall at the Business School.
Lying on the grass outside the school, protestors used jackets as pillows, while others were pictured holding up signs that read “Hold Harvard Accountable for Supporting Genocide,” “No Justice No Peace,” and “Ceasefire Now.”
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Announcing the protest on Instagram, Harvard’s Palestine Solidarity Committee wrote: “Israel just bombed al-Ahli hospital and medical center in Gaza where hundreds of Gazans were receiving medical treatment and seeking shelter.”
It is currently unclear which side was responsible for the destruction of the hospital, with both Israel and Hamas denying responsibility.
The protest comes nearly a fortnight after the group co-sponsored a letter titled “Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine.”
The letter blamed Israel for the bloodshed in both Israel and Palestine.
The groups wrote in the letter: “We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”
“The apartheid regime is the only one to blame,” it continued, referring to Israel.
Harvard has faced controversy regarding its response to the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
A group of student organizations blamed the “Israeli regime” for all the violence in a joint statement, sparking ire from Israel supporters.
Former President Barack Obama had been due to attend an event at Harvard but cancelled due to illness.
Harvard President Claudine Gay initially did not give a clear stance on the conflict.
She later released a statement condemning Hamas’ attack on civilians and addressing the student groups’ comments.
The Harvard President also emphasized Harvard’s commitment to free expression, even for views some may find objectionable.
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