BREAKING | Cornell student groups blame Israel for Hamas attacks

Wednesday afternoon, following the deaths of hundreds at the hands of Hamas terrorists, Cornell’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Arab Graduate Students Association (AGSA) issued a “Statement of Solidarity” on the ongoing conflict.

In addition to SJP and AGSA, the Review can confirm that the Cornell Progressives – a left-of-center group with a history of activism on campus – has also endorsed the statement.

SJP “hold[s] the Israeli state accountable for both sides’ ongoing tragic loss of life,” claiming this event is another in a long line of “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians. SJP has a long history of activism on Cornell’s campus, including rallies earlier this year to end Cornell’s ties with Israel and the defense industry.

SJP does not speak for all Cornellians, as many – especially in the campus Jewish community – repudiated their statement. Zoe Bernstein ‘24, the president of Cornellians for Israel, said: “Israel has made it clear that it is fighting against Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization. … it is unrealistic for them to stand idly by and watch these atrocities happen without responding.”

Bernstein, in response to the whole statement, commented: “It is absolutely appropriate to condemn violence but inappropriate to justify terrorism, war crimes, and anti-semitism.” Responding to the many pro-Palestinian agitators who have demanded “contextualization” of the Hamas attacks, Bernstein said: “the violence unfolding in the region is unprecedented and thus should not be compared to anything that has preceded it.”

SJP’s statement only mentions Hamas by name once, accusing the international community of “rush[ing] to condemn the attacks by Hamas” while “silently watching the Israeli government conduct one of the largest massacres of our time.”

SJP included several demands after stating its position, beginning with two demands for new Cornell statements. SJP wants Cornell to “acknowledge the Palestinian people’s existence” and condemn the “siege” of Gaza. The group also cited the free expression theme year, asking Cornell to provide a platform for Palestinian advocates.

This demand likely comes in response to a DEI official at the Johnson graduate business school speaking in defense of Hamas on social media. Cornell quickly distanced itself from the official’s remarks, which characterized the attacks as part of the “right to resist” occupation. 

Meanwhile, the university itself issued two statements condemning the attacks and following violence, then later adding the word “terrorism.” Cornellians for Israel also issued a statement, saying: “Targeting innocent Israeli civilians is terrorism, not resistance.”

SJP and AGSA also repeated perennial demands for the boycott, divestment, and sanction of Israel (BDS). The organizations stated they will, “Adhere to the guidelines and campaigns of the global BDS movement and pressure our local institutions and businesses to cut ties with Israel and its supporters.” 

Activists have previously called on Cornell to cut its ties with Israeli institutions. In May 2021, members of the Student Assembly asked Cornell to end its partnership with Technion in Haifa and for CUPD to end any partnership with Israel. 

Groups also pushed for the adoption of Resolution 36 in 2019, which would have urged the university to divest from firms “profiting from the occupation of Palestine and human rights violations.” The resolution was rejected by a close margin.

Samuel Kim contributed to the reporting for this article.