Dozens of Palestinian students in southern Gaza recently gathered to express their gratitude for the support shown by US college students. The demonstration took place in the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, where children held banners with messages thanking students from Columbia University for standing by them. Messages on the banners highlighted the importance of education and condemned violations of their rights as war crimes.
The students congregated near makeshift tents that now serve as shelters for those displaced from northern Gaza. Videos captured the students spray-painting messages of appreciation on the tent fabric, acknowledging the solidarity from US students. Displaced student Takfeer Abu-Yousuf emphasized the significance of the support, stating that their destroyed homes prevent them from expressing gratitude in their own spaces.
Eighteen-year-old Rana Al-Taher lamented the loss of educational opportunities, as the school in the camp has been repurposed as a shelter. She stressed the importance of reclaiming their right to education and expressed a desire to restore hope in Gaza. The students' demonstration aimed to draw attention to the impact of the conflict on their education and to advocate for the restoration of their learning environment.
