Pro-Palestinian protesters rally at Georgetown University

Protest focuses on demanding Georgetown divest from Israel and ensure protections for pro-Palestinian speech

Georgetown University campus saw a significant pro-Palestinian demonstration, as dozens of students and community members marched, blocked an intersection, and rallied outside Healy Hall.

The protest on Wednesday, , part of a broader wave of similar actions across US college campuses including Cornell and Columbia University, focused on demanding that Georgetown divest from Israel and ensure protections for pro-Palestinian speech.

The demonstrators, energized after summer break, voiced their dissatisfaction with the university's investment policies and its handling of pro-Palestinian speech. “Our university has not met our demands yet,” said Miriam, a student and member of Jewish Voice for Peace.

She criticised the university for allegedly repressing pro-Palestinian speech and imposing student conduct violations on activist groups before the semester began.

Georgetown University responded by stating it does not comment on specific student conduct matters but affirmed that all student groups must adhere to university standards.

The protestors indicated they plan to escalate their actions if their demands are not met.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack on October 7 by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 94,300 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.