Students at California State University demonstrating for Palestinian humanitarian aid.
Approximately two dozen students from four California State University campuses have begun a hunger strike to protest Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, contributing to severe humanitarian crises there. The movement, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, aims to urge the CSU system to divest from companies that manufacture weapons used in the region. Despite facing physical challenges during the strike, the students mobilize support through workshops and activities, reflecting a broader trend of political activism on college campuses across the nation.
San Francisco, California – Approximately two dozen students from four California State University (CSU) campuses have initiated a hunger strike to protest against the ongoing aid blockade of Gaza by Israel, which has contributed to critical humanitarian crises and widespread starvation among Palestinians. The strike began on May 5 and has been organized by a group known as Students for Justice in Palestine, reflecting solidarity with the two million Palestinians who are currently at risk of hunger.
The hunger strike coincides with the blockade’s second month and follows increasing international criticism of Israel’s actions. The students’ objectives include urging the CSU system to divest from corporations that manufacture weapons used in the region. This active movement also corresponds with a rising trend of political activism seen on college campuses nationwide.
One of the hunger strikers, an undergraduate student from San Francisco State University, underscored the urgency of the initiative, drawing a symbolic link between their protest and the dire circumstances facing people in Gaza. The hunger strikers have organized daily campus activities such as educational workshops and health monitoring sessions, although they refrain from sleeping overnight at the protest site due to concerns about police intervention.
Support for the hunger strike has gained significant traction among students and faculty, with Jaime Jackson, a professor from Sacramento State and a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, highlighting the human rights violations stemming from the blockade that restricts humanitarian aid to Gaza. The movement has sparked recent rallies across multiple CSU campuses, calling for the university to terminate financial investments in companies tied to military and weapon production that are believed to exacerbate conflict in Gaza.
Some participants from CSU Long Beach have explicitly pointed out concerns surrounding the university’s financial connections to Boeing, a major supplier to the Israel Defense Forces. The CSU Chancellor’s Office has publicly opposed the divestment efforts, asserting that such actions could infringe on academic freedom and may affect alternative funding methods for the institution.
Hunger strikers are currently facing considerable physical challenges, such as muscle cramps and lightheadedness, as they limit their fluid intake. Despite the hardships, they continue to mobilize support for their cause, with calls for further action against the CSU’s financial affiliations with companies the students believe support international atrocities.
The divestment campaign highlights an ongoing advocacy effort among students, who are inspired by successful policies enacted at institutions like San Francisco State University, which has already divested some assets from military contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing due to previous protests and negotiations with students. At least two CSU campuses—San Francisco State and Sacramento State—have started their own divestment actions in response to growing pressure from student groups.
As the hunger strike progresses, it continues to draw attention to the implications of university financial practices in the broader context of human rights and global crises. CSU officials have reiterated their commitment to respecting diverse viewpoints amid these protests, yet students remain determined to advocate for a shift in investment strategies, pushing for actions that align with their ethical stances against companies involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This hunger strike and associated protests at CSU campuses have thus become a potent symbol of student-led activism, amplifying calls for accountability and change within the institution and beyond.
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