York College is condemning an announcement issued by three pupil associations which seems to glorify the phobia assault perpetrated in opposition to Israeli civilians final week.
In a surprising assertion launched collectively Thursday by the York Federation of scholars (YFS), The York College Graduate College students Affiliation and the Glendon Faculty College students Union, the coed unions seems to applaud the actions of Hamas.
The assertion referred to the Oct. 7 assault on Israelis, which included the homicide of youngsters and experiences of widespread sexual violence, as “a robust act of resistance.”
The assertion refers to Israel because the “so-called Israel,” an obvious indication the coed unions don’t acknowledge the nation’s existence.
In their assertion, the student-funded teams lashed out at Israel for its air strikes on Gaza, saying they got here in response to “Palestinian resistance.”
The assertion went on additional: “We stand firmly in solidarity with these resisting such oppression, actively contributing to the legit combat for justice in opposition to settler-colonial nations. We as college students’ unions have a duty to unfold consciousness and assist the liberation of Palestine and all struggles for Indigenous sovereignty.”
Whereas most nations acknowledge the Palestinians’ proper to hunt an unbiased state, Hamas has lengthy been thought-about a terrorist group by Canada and most Western nations as a result of it intentionally targets civilians. The group seeks to finally substitute Israel with an Islamic theocracy.
In its shock assault on Israel Saturday, its members slaughtered younger folks at a music competition and carried away round 130 civilians as hostages, together with kids and aged folks.
“York College unequivocally condemns the inflammatory assertion shared by three pupil unions final evening. Freedom of expression has limits and comes with obligations. It must not ever attain into selling or justifying violence in opposition to unarmed civilians,” the college mentioned in an announcement posted to X Friday.
“To counsel in any other case is abhorrent and doesn’t replicate the views of York College, nor the angle of many 1000’s of York College college students.”
Some 1,300 Israelis, most civilians, had been killed within the assault, which got here on a Jewish vacation.
“We name upon the executives of the York Federation of College students, York College Graduate Scholar Affiliation, and the Glendon Faculty Scholar Union to instantly make clear that they firmly reject any acts of violence or discrimination in opposition to Jewish college students or different members of the group, and to reaffirm their dedication to non-violence and the protection of all of their members,” the college mentioned.
The scholar unions launched their assertion Thursday as Jewish communities world wide boosted safety within the wake of on-line threats associated to the battle.
In an announcement, the Associates of Simon Wiesenthal Heart (FSWC) referred to as the coed group’s put up “outrageous.”
“This assertion not solely misrepresents Hamas terrorists as ‘Palestinian folks,’ but in addition justifies their land, air and sea incursion into Israel to commit horrendous mass homicide, rape, mutilation and torture in opposition to Israeli folks, calling it an ‘act of resistance,’” the group mentioned.
FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt referred to as the assertion “shockingly reprehensible” and applauded the college for condemning it.
– With information from The Related Press
