Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa. Criticized the United Nations on social media platform X failing to condemn hamas For several months after October 7, he expressed concern over how the United States treated anti-Israel protesters.
Fetterman wrote, “United Nations: Unwilling to condemn Hamas, which has killed, raped, mutilated and tortured more than 1,000 Israeli infants, children, women and the elderly.” Turk was “disturbed by the treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters at American universities.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Turki on Tuesday condemned US police for a “disproportionate” crackdown against anti-Israel protesters on US college campuses in recent weeks.
University of California, Los Angeles campus turned into chaos overnight On Tuesday, anti-Israel protests turned into clashes between opposition groups, prompting police to intervene. At Columbia University in New York City, police stormed Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied and barricaded by protesters, and forcibly removed students from the building.
“I am concerned that some actions by law enforcement at many universities appear disproportionate to their impacts,” Turk wrote in a statement.
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman speaks at a news conference in Harrisburg on January 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Levy)
He added, “Incitement to violence or hatred based on identity or viewpoint – whether real or imagined – must be strongly rejected.” “We have already seen that such dangerous rhetoric can quickly lead to real violence.”
Turk stressed that any violence should be addressed on a case-by-case basis rather than blanket measures that “impose the unacceptable viewpoints of a few on all members of the protest” and that “responses by universities and law enforcement Need to be guided “by human rights law, allowing lively debate and protecting safe spaces for all.”
Turk said, “American universities have a strong, historic tradition of student activism, fierce debate, and freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” “It must be clear that the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression cannot be equated with incitement to violence and hatred.”
Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., against the United Nations flag. Inset of a protester being removed from Hamilton Hall at Columbia University. (Getty Images)
Turks in the days after the October 7 attacks hostage taking condemned and “horrific mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups”, although Hamas has not directly condemned them. In February, he claimed that “all parties” in the Israel–Hamas conflict have committed “clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law.”
Volker Turk speaks at a press conference at the United Nations office in Geneva on December 9, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed this sentiment, declaring, “Guaranteing freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration is necessary in all circumstances, but at the same time it is clear that hate speech is unacceptable.” Guterres further argued that university officials should “properly manage” the situation themselves.
The United Nations has failed to adopt measures He will condemn Hamas for its October 7 attack on Israel, which is often vetoed by Security Council members like Russia. Guterres has personally condemned terrorist attacks against Israel, “for which there can be no justification,” he has said.
New York Police Department officers detain anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University on April 30, 2024. According to reports, more than 100 people were arrested. (Selcuk Acre/Anadolu via Getty Images)
US universities have begun taking drastic measures to crack down on protests spreading across campuses as the war in the Gaza Strip drags on for more than six months.
Video shows anti-Israel protesters preventing Jewish student from attending class; UCLA responded
Ivy League universities, particularly Columbia, have served as a significant flashpoint for protests, which have also emerged on campuses in California and Texas. University of Texas at Austin Palestinian Solidarity Committee suspended After several students were arrested.
State troopers in riot gear try to break up an anti-Israel protest at the University of Texas on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jay Jenner/American-Statesman)
Before clearing Hamilton Hall, Columbia had limited access to its campus And some buildings were closed after protesters stormed the halls and doors were locked using metal gates, wooden tables and chairs, and zip ties.
Footage shows protesters breaking windows in New York, flying the palestinian flag Above a window, and chanting: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Palestine will live forever.” The students have demanded the university withdraw its financial support to Israel and adopt a policy of transparency with its investments.
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Administrators stressed that student safety remains their “paramount” concern, thanking them for their “patience, cooperation and understanding.”
Neither Guterres or Volcker’s offices responded to a Fox News Digital request for comment by the time of publication.
