Harvard Student Groups Blame Israel for Hamas Attacks, CEOs Want to Blacklist Them

More than 30 Harvard University student groups signed a joint statement on Monday, blaming Israel for the situation in the region after the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out deadly attacks on Israel on Saturday, October 7.

In their letter titled “Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine,” student organizations hold Israel “entirely responsible” for the Israel-Hamas war, Erudera.com reports.

“We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,” the letter says.

The groups say the Hamas attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” as millions of people in Gaza were forced to live in an “open-air prison” for over two decades.

“The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years.

From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden,” they went on.

CEOs have called on Harvard to publish the names of students whose organizations blame only Israel for the violence in the region. Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, wants the names to be released so businesses don’t hire those who co-signed the letter.

In the beginning, the document was signed by 34 Harvard student organizations, but later on, several signatories decided to distance themselves from the open letter.

According to Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, the groups that have withdrawn their signatures from the statement are Amnesty International at Harvard, Harvard College Act on a Dream, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association, the Harvard Islamic Society, and Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo.

While announcing it has withdrawn its signature, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association posted on Instagram, saying it regrets that its decision to sign the letter has been interpreted as support for Hamas acts in Israel.

On Tuesday, Harvard President Claudine Gay commented on the controversial letter, clarifying it does not represent the university’s stance.

“Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership.”

Violence has erupted in Israel and the Gaza Strip after the Hamas militant group launched a massive, unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas.

Due to the Israel-Hamas war, thousands of people have been killed, including international students; thousands of others wounded, and many were taken hostage by Hamas.

>> Islamic University of Gaza Hit by Israeli Airstrikes Amid Escalating Conflict

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