Dozens of SLU students joined nearly 2,000 pro-Palestinian supporters in a rally downtown against recent Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip. 

The protest on Oct. 15 comes amid rising death tolls in Gaza, where 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 1 million displaced. Israel declared war on Gaza after more than 1,400 Israelis were killed in a surprise Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Ahead of the march, organizers spoke in Kiener Plaza Park, where the rally began a block from the Arch, about the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Palestine.They also spoke about the dehumanization of Palestinians in the Gaza trip facing relentless bombing and denounced the ongoing siege of Gaza and Israel’s planned ground invasion. 

Organizers called on the international community to intervene to stop the humanitarian crisis by calling for a ceasefire for both parties. 

Dozens carried signs while many others raised Palestinian flags as they chanted “Free Palestine” and “Not another nickel not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes.”

Fatima Alasady, a freshman political science major, said she is appalled by the military escalation and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza this week.  

“We are witnessing a real time mass genocide, and we need to do everything in our power to spread awarness against the injustices happening in Palestine,” Alasady said. 

A SLU junior studying accounting, who requested to stay anonymous, joined the protest with her siblings and friends. Her family is from Bieten, a village in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s latest war on Gaza has been traumatizing, she said. 

“Kids don’t deserve to die. Palestinians don’t deserve to die,” the junior said. “We need to end the occupation.”

Gallery • 11 Photos

(Nadia Abusoud / University News)

Numerous protesters have families in Gaza who they are worried about. SLU alumnus Mohammed Ashkar is thankful his family members in Gaza are safe for now, but he is worried about what is to come. 

“I am here for my people. I am here for Palestine [and] to support all humans who are being oppressed in this world,” said Ashkar. 

On Oct. 9, Israel enforced a total blockade on Gaza. This blockade, according to Yoav Gallant, Israeli defense minister, consists of the banning of food, water, fuel and electricity. Palestinian advocate, Mohammed Ghannam, shares disappointment in this announcement.

“The civilians of Palestine should not be the ones to suffer for what happened between the armies,” Ghannam said. “This should not be the way the government is acting withholding the water and the electricity and the food, this is against human rights, this is against humanity.”

The majority of protestors were of Palestinian origin, but the crowd included Muslims of various ethnicities and many allies as well.

The United States’ backing of the Israeli military response sparked strong condemnations from many protestors. From the St. Louis branch of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, Amicia, thinks there is more underlying to the U.S. response.

“Israel is really an extension of U.S. imperialism to pretty much protect U.S. interest in the region,” Amicia said. “We know that this is not about defense, there is this lie that there is this old fight between Jewish people and Muslims, when really this is a question of colonists and the colonized.”

Protesters argued that the Israeli state is rooted in the colonization of Palestinian land and its people. They pointed to the history of the Zionist movement and the ongoing Israeli occupation as the root causes of the recent war. Some international human rights organizations have declared Israel’s occupation illegal. According to a United Nations report in 2022, “Israel’s occupation is illegal and indistinguishable from a ‘settler-colonial’ situation”. 

Sophomore Sahra Shah hopes the protest will change the St. Louis community’s narrative about the war and educate them about what is happening to Palestinians. 

“It’s all about helping everyone and making sure no one else is killed anymore,” Sahra said as she marched downtown. 

The protest was organized by a coalition of groups including American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace-St. Louis, Council on American Islamic Relations-Missouri (CAIR-Missouri) and the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee. 

On the morning of Oct. 15, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis held a rally in support of Israel outside of their headquarters. Around 500 protesters attended, and put up signs for individuals who have been taken by Hamas, with the headlines being “kidnapped,” according to local news reports. 

Amid rising tensions in the U.S., CAIR-Missouri secretary Komel Choudhary told the crowd report to the advocacy group incidents of Islamophobia or harassment for expressing solidarity with Palestine. 

Palestinians at the rally believe that being loud and proud is the best way to help their loved ones back in Gaza. Palestinian protester Maram reiterates the importance of showing up to support.

“I am very happy with the turnout today. I am very proud of my people, very proud of Saint Louis,” she said. “Very proud of the Palestinians, and very proud of all of the other cultures who came and showed out for us.”