Student communities at Yüzüncü Yıl University (Van YYÜ) in Türkiye’s eastern Van province have been staging protests on the university campus for several days, joining a global movement of student protests against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The protests, which began over seven months ago in universities across the USA and Europe, have now spread worldwide. In a show of solidarity, Van YYÜ students have initiated a 'Campus Intifada Tent Watch'. The tents, set up across the campus, host daily activities aimed at raising awareness about the human rights violations occurring in Gaza.

In addition to these activities, the students have also set up tents along the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Alley Road, where they continue their vigil for Gaza. The area has become a hub for photo exhibitions, press releases, and various demonstrations.

Speaking to ILKHA, the students expressed their inability to remain silent in the face of such atrocities.

Seyithan Gözüngül, a third-year Guidance and Psychological Counseling student, emphasized the importance of student involvement. "Our aim here is to be the voice of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Jerusalem and Gaza," he said. "We acted according to the principle that if you cannot prevent a persecution, you should announce it. If you cannot announce it, tell someone about it. And if you cannot do that, then condemn it with your heart. We aimed to raise awareness about our brothers and sisters in Gaza on our campus. Thankfully, we are reaching our goals. We inform students who are unaware of or misunderstand the situation in Gaza. We are raising awareness, and it's working. We are trying to do our part on our campus. Even a student doing their part is a jihad. Our brothers and sisters there are defending themselves, and our responsibility here is to spread awareness and make it an agenda, at least in our own community. We need to view this persecution from the perspective of a student in Gaza. According to the latest news we have received, their education and training have been disrupted due to the deaths of students. Anyone who considers themselves human must understand and speak out about this. If thousands can take to the streets for the death of a woman or a child, we should be able to do the same for the dead women, children, and students in Gaza whose education has been interrupted. This is true sincerity and reality."

Burcu Karakuş, a PhD student in the Department of History, drew attention to the protests by university students in the USA and other countries. "The demonstrations that started in the USA show us that they can actually share their ideas more freely," she said. "We are a little behind in this regard. We all feel the same way about Palestine. We all know that this is a genocide, that it's wrong. We are now gradually asking ourselves, 'Why are they so far ahead and we are not? Well, if we are Muslims, what are they?' We may have started a little late, but we are here to raise awareness as much as we can. No matter how backward we may seem, we are here to do something, to tell students that the genocide is still ongoing in Palestine, please be aware of this."

Karakuş mentioned that primary and secondary school students on campus visited the tent and showed interest in Palestine. "We especially want to do a craft activity with girls," she said. "We make bracelets, everyone makes them themselves and wears them on their own arms. And today, one of our friends said something very nice. She said, 'I will see this bracelet one day in the future and remember, yes, there was a war in Palestine years ago, and I made my voice heard in that tent that day. I made my voice heard by making a bracelet.' I liked this very much. We are making small Palestinian flags here, and we made a lot of bracelets together with the children. The fact that the children sing those songs in their own language will make them remember this day in the future. They will say that there was a genocide years ago, and we should not forget it. Having a school next to us was an advantage for us. They ask us what we are doing here. We say come and join us, let's make bracelets together, let's remember Palestine, let's remember the genocide in Palestine. Here, children are riding their bicycles with flags. They will not forget this day; none of them will forget that there was a genocide."

Mehmet Sami Baytekin, a third-year Veterinary Medicine student, spoke about how students can raise awareness about Gaza. "Our goal, as student communities, is to awaken the conscience of those on campus who may be unaware of this issue," Baytekin said. "We're reminding everyone of the importance of supporting the Palestinian cause and who has the responsibility to do so."

He described the various activities offered at their protest site: "We have camping tents alongside a larger one where we hold workshops, book readings, and lectures. Even a simple act, like a student walking around their department wearing a keffiyeh in solidarity with Gaza, can serve as a powerful reminder. Additionally, informed students can use their knowledge to encourage others to join the cause. At the very least, we must ensure Gaza is not forgotten."

The students' dedication to raising awareness about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, despite the challenges they may face, is commendable. Their efforts to create a platform for dialogue, education, and advocacy demonstrate their commitment to promoting social justice and human rights.

These protests serve as a reminder of the importance of solidarity and collective action in addressing global issues. By organizing these events, students are not only amplifying the voices of Palestinians but also challenging the status quo and advocating for meaningful change.

It's crucial for society to support and encourage such initiatives, as they play a vital role in fostering empathy, understanding, and action on pressing humanitarian issues. These students are setting an example for others to follow and reminding us of the power of grassroots activism in creating a more just and compassionate world. (ILKHA)