Colleges across the country have seen a mass movement of students protesting Israel’s actions in the Israel-Hamas war, which has been raging since Hamas launched an Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Demonstrations have made their way to colleges in Arizona, including Arizona State University in Tempe, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and University of Arizona in Tucson.

The war has ravaged the Gaza Strip, leaving 360,000 structures — including homes, schools, mosques and hospitals — destroyed and more than 34,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, whose figures include combatants and civilians. The war broke out when 1,500 Hamas-led militants stormed across Israel’s border, killing 1,200 people while capturing more than 240 hostages, some of whom have been released or have died.

Protests against the war and U.S. assistance to Israel’s military have been going on for months, but only recently has a nationwide wave of college campus protests materialized and resulted in hundreds of arrests. Here’s what to know about why these protests are happening and how they are unfolding in Arizona.

Why are college students protesting?

Protesters are rallying around the belief that the Israel Defense Forces’ response has exceeded the toll of the initial attacks, and that there needs to be a cease-fire to prevent more casualties. Many protesters hope to discourage the U.S. and colleges from continuing support for Israel, and many are also calling for Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

On April 17 at Columbia University, demonstrators on campus formed an encampment and waved flags and signs showing solidarity with Palestinians. At least 108 protesters were arrested the following day due to the encampments, according to the New York Times.

On Wednesday, a horde of protesters took over Columbia’s Hamilton Hall and draped a flag over the side of the building reading “Hind Hall,” a tribute to Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in January in Gaza. The University of Southern California closed its campus and canceled its graduation commencement ceremony after 93 people were arrested. Other protests have taken shape, and since last week, demonstrations have swept across Arizona.

Why are ASU students protesting?

Protesters who have stayed at encampments at ASU initially demanded the university divest all of its funding toward Israel, force ASU President Michael Crow to resign, and remove the presence of ASU police.

Additionally, protesters have called for the reinstatement of MECHA de ASU, a political student organization whose Feb. 12 post calling for the death of “the zionist” and “the settler” led to its suspension.

What happened at ASU protests?

On April 26, up to 250 protesters participated in what was meant to be an all-day encampment on campus before police broke it apart and three people were arrested. The encampment was started by a group that identified itself as Students Against Apartheid. Campus police told protesters they were violating misdemeanor trespass statute ARS 13-1502, an offense related to someone on “property after a reasonable request to leave” by law enforcement.

The statute was used when officers arrested protesters in the early morning of April 27. 

The encampment faltered, leading to the arrests of about 70 people. At one point, sprinklers were turned on, spraying the pro-Palestinian protesters. Four women alleged they had their hijabs forcibly removed by police. The arrestees were booked on trespassing charges, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has yet to pursue prosecution as of May 2.

Alumni Lawn, where the encampment had been held, was closed off with metal barricades, and multiple private security company employees said ASU had ordered a 24-hour watch.

About 50 protesters rallied at ASU on Wednesday evening, waving Palestinian flags and holding cease-fire signs, with the gathering taking hold near a bus stop on East University Drive.

Why are UA students protesting?

The protests began in late April and resumed the afternoon of April 30 at UA in Tucson as spawned by the Students Against Apartheid group. The group called for the university to end its partnership with local arms manufacturers, including Raytheon, for providing weapons for Israel. Raytheon is the largest private employer in Tucson.

Here are the demands Students Against Apartheid listed for the University of Arizona:

• Publicly condemn Israel’s “genocidal campaign” and call for a permanent cease-fire.
• Disclose financial connections to Israel and weapons manufacturers.
• Divest from all companies “profiting from the occupation of Palestine.”
• Immediately dismiss members of the dean’s advisory board in the College of Engineering with connections to Israeli company Elbit Systems, Raytheon, Caterpillar and Intel Corporation.
• Cease surveillance on student organizers and shutting down of student groups.
• Refuse to enforce HB 2759, which prohibits public universities from recognizing a student organization that supports “a foreign terrorist organization,” according to the bill.
• Cease financial support for cultural and academic institutions affiliated with Israel, including study abroad programs.
• Defund the UA Police Department.
• End association with the National Center for Border Security and Immigration.

What happened at the UA protests?

University officials ordered police to enforce campus policies about 2 a.m. Wednesday and clear the encampment’s 50 to 70 demonstrators after at least a dozen pleas for demonstrators to disperse with warnings about arrests and chemical munition. Law enforcement in riot gear pushed the crowd of protesters and onlookers, shooting pepper spray and rubber bullets.Organizers said four people were arrested, including two students. Just after 2:30 a.m., officials announced the area of the encampment was cleared.

Why are NAU students protesting?

Demonstrators at NAU are demanding the school disclose its lobbying activities, divest from Israel, sever all ties with the country and abolish university police.

What happened at NAU protests?

The encampment at NAU was cleared Tuesday night by dozens of state and local law enforcement officers who arrested 20 people after more than three hours where tears gas was reportedly used.

Following the unrest on Tuesday night, the university released a statement announcing a club’s suspension for violating NAU policies in addition to a new 5 p.m. curfew for all expressive activity and the prohibition of all temporary structures on campus, including tents, shade structures and fencing. The curfew change comes just a day after the school enacted an initial interim curfew of 10 p.m. for the group’s protest and encampment.

On Wednesday, more than 100 demonstrators stood outside the student union in silent support of the suspended Students for Justice in Palestine chapter on campus.

But nearly two hours past the new curfew, the line of protesters remained standing without any disruption from police or campus officials trying to disperse the demonstration.

Controversy fueled: Lawyer says women begged for ‘humanity’ during ASU arrest, hijab removal

The university also said that no tear gas, chemical irritants or Tasers were used by law enforcement on Tuesday night, contradicting some reports from protesters who were on the front line of the encampment when police moved in to clear the area about 10:30 p.m.