CAMERA on Campus joins the global community in expressing profound relief and joy at the release of a few Israeli hostages: Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Emily Damari, 28, who endured 471 terrifying days of captivity under Hamas. Their survival is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and their return speaks to Israel’s unwavering commitment to bringing them home.
We also share the fears of many Israelis that released terrorists may seek to resume violent attacks on innocents, and we hope the international community will remember the full facts of the agreement if the Jewish state is compelled to respond.
On college campuses worldwide, these considerations have a direct impact on the climate and discourse. Anti- Israel student organizations expressed support for Hamas’s actions and its brutal attacks against civilians. This not only fosters a hostile environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students but also undermines the values of academic integrity and respectful dialogue that universities must uphold.
We call upon university administrations to recognize and address the challenges posed by these developments. It is imperative to ensure that campuses remain spaces where Jewish and pro-Israel students feel safe and respected, and where apologetics for Palestinian terrorism, kidnapping, and violence by radical faculty and student groups is unequivocally condemned.
