IZU Students Condemn the Genocide in Gaza on the Second Anniversary of October 7th

On the Second anniversary of October 7th, IZU students protested Israel's attacks on Gaza. Gathering at the university's campus in Halkalı, students held a march and issued a press statement, calling for concete steps to stop the genocide. 

Since the start of Israel's heavy bombardment of Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the attacks have escalated to genocidal levels, sparking worldwide protests. On this second anniversary, IZU students gathered at the Halkalı campus to condemn Israel's atrcities in Gaza. 

"Sumud: An Expression of Humanity's Shared Values" 
Students, who marched from the ISEFAM building, made their press statement at the IZU Square. IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, Vice Rectors, and faculty members joined the students. The statement highlighted the Sumud fleet, which set sail with volunteers from 44 countries, as a symbol of resistance and shared human values. The intervention against the fleet was condemned, with the statement stating: “People facing poverty, thirst, and hunger under Israeli oppression are waiting hopelessly for international aid, while struggling against death. The countries complicit in this genocide, led by the US, have forgotten human values for their own interests, becoming accomplices in this atrocity. It's time for concrete steps from Islamic countries to stop these brutal attacks.”

Gazan Student: Silence and Neutrality Must End
Gazan student Ibrahim Reyen reminded that solidarity shouldn’t just be about slogans. He stated, “Let’s stand together against this machine of oppression. Let’s shout to the world: ‘Gaza is not alone. We are with it until the occupation ends and Palestine is free from sea to river!’ There should be no silence anymore. There should be no neutrality in the face of spilled blood.”

Acar: Humanity is Watching the Gaza Massacre
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar expressed that the world has been watching the ongoing Israeli oppression since 1948 and, for the last two years, the genocide with helplessness. He said, “Humanity is watching the Gaza massacre. International unity and values have lost all meaning. Gaza’s people continue to sacrifice their lives to preserve humanity.” He thanked the students for their sensitivity to Gaza and encouraged them to work hard to excel in every field.

Panel: “A Turning Point in the Conflict: From October 7th to Today”
IZU’s Political Science Club held a panel discussing the impact of the October 7th attack. Dr. Fadi Zatari spoke about Israeli propaganda, and Dr. Selim Sezer highlighted the issues faced by Palestinians outside Gaza. Sezer emphasized the need for an equitable solution beyond the two-state solution, focusing on supporting Palestinians’ right to determine their own fate.

Dr. Zatari criticized the labeling of anyone who opposes Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine as anti-Semitic and explained how Israel uses terms like ‘threat’, ‘holocaust’, and ‘victim’ to justify its actions and suppress discussions on Palestinian rights.