Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland disagreed with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s comments regarding anti-Israel protesters on college campuses. Clinton had stated that these protesters lacked knowledge about Middle Eastern history, which Van Hollen felt was dismissive of their concerns. He expressed this sentiment on CBS News’s Face the Nation, emphasizing the importance of students feeling safe on campus and denouncing antisemitism.
Van Hollen acknowledged that while some students may not fully understand the conflict, the majority are informed and passionate about protesting against the high civilian death toll in Gaza. He recognized that there are negative elements involved in these protests, as well as in counterprotests, but maintained his belief that most students comprehend the situation in Gaza.
The article also mentioned the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which began with terrorist attacks by Hamas in October 2023. It highlighted the Biden administration’s threat to withhold weapons shipments if Israel proceeds with a military operation in Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza.
