Protests Erupt Across the Country as Fear of a Regional War Looms

Pro-Palestinian march in Downtown Raleigh. Source: ABC 11

Across the country, activists have taken to the streets to protest US support for Israel as violence in Lebanon escalates. On September 24th, protestors blocked traffic in Raleigh, voicing demands for a ceasefire and criticizing the Israeli government for the killing of Palestinians and Lebanese civilians. 

The conflict in the Middle East entered a new phase when pagers carried by Hezbollah affiliates and others exploded all over the country on September 18th, followed by a second wave of explosions involving pagers and devices such as walkie-talkies the next day. There are growing fears that Iran may become involved in the conflict with Israel due to its ties with Hezbollah, especially following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, in an Israeli airstrike. 

As of October 1st, the death toll in Gaza is staggering: 41,500 people have died, with most being women and children. With the war expanding to other areas of the Middle East, some Americans are concerned about the role of the United States in this conflict as Israel secures an aid package of $8.7 billion from the United States. Israel has been strongly financially supported by the United States since its founding, receiving about $310 billion in economic and, disproportionately, military aid— the most foreign aid out of any recipient country. Many developing nations with high poverty rates are not even in the top ten countries receiving the most foreign aid from the United States. A significant number of Americans are concerned that taxpayer dollars are funding a war with a high civilian death toll and no clear path to a ceasefire.

Protests have occurred across the country since the Hamas attacks on October 7th, 2023, especially on college campuses. Students have been arrested and punished by their universities, but continue to protest regardless of the potential consequences. Many students have called for the divestment of university funds from companies with ties to Israel, seeing it as supporting the war effort in Gaza. As the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks approaches, colleges are preparing for another wave of protests by creating deterrents, such as requiring a permit from the school. Students are increasingly worried that their tuition is contributing to human rights abuses, as university dollars profit from Israeli-affiliated companies, and vice-versa. 

Entering this new phase in the Middle East conflict through the involvement of Lebanon, United States officials, such as President Biden, are losing faith in a ceasefire deal as the focus shifts to defeating Hezbollah. The loss of human life and overall instability of the region have taken a painful toll on Americans with ties to the region and those who sympathize with the staggering death toll of this war. As violence and tensions escalate, a path to ending the war and all of the emotional turmoil that comes with it becomes even more hazy. 

Americans, particularly students, continue to protest American involvement in the conflict, but their grievances continue to go unheard. Protests have not stopped at Columbia University and on other college campuses, even after students have been arrested or threatened with suspension. Protests will likely continue for as long as the conflict persists, and as long as the civilian death toll rises.