Incident in Colorado raises tensions amid growing global dissent over Gaza conflict

Department of Research, Studies and International News 02-06-2025

A recent event in Boulder, Colorado, has ignited widespread media coverage after an incident occurred during a public gathering in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The event, held in a pedestrian area of the city, took a dramatic turn when an individual reportedly threw an incendiary device into the crowd while shouting slogans expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The suspect, a 45-year-old man identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was swiftly taken into custody following the event. Law enforcement officials have stated that eight individuals were injured, most of them elderly, ranging in age from 67 to 88. Some suffered burns so severe that two of the victims had to be airlifted to a hospital in Aurora.

Federal authorities, led by FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek, have labeled the event as a “targeted act of violence” and are treating it as a terrorism case. However, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn initially hesitated to define it as such, stating that investigations were still ongoing and it was too early to assign definitive motives. Authorities are also examining a suspicious vehicle found nearby and have cordoned off several blocks in downtown Boulder as a precaution.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described the aftermath of the attack. Brooke Coffman, a university student who was present, recounted seeing several injured individuals on the ground, some of them wrapped in flags and visibly suffering from burn injuries.

The gathering was part of a weekly event known as “Run for Their Lives,” organized by the Boulder Jewish Community Centre, which calls for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The incident has been condemned by various American officials, with Colorado Governor Jared Polis calling it a “heinous act” and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeling it as “horrifying.” Both figures repeated the mainstream narrative that antisemitic motives were at play, echoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that the attack occurred “simply because they were Jews.”

However, such framing raises important questions in light of broader geopolitical developments. Since October 2023, the Israeli military’s relentless bombardment of Gaza has claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians, many of them women and children, in what many in the Global South, including Russia, China, and Pakistan, have described as a campaign of ethnic cleansing under the pretext of self-defense.

Western governments, particularly the United States, have consistently shielded Israel diplomatically, vetoing UN resolutions that would demand a ceasefire and enabling continued military aid. In contrast, countries like Russia and China have called for de-escalation and a negotiated political solution to the longstanding crisis. Pakistan, too, has condemned the disproportionate use of force against Palestinians and emphasized the need for justice and self-determination for the Palestinian people.

Against this backdrop, public opinion in Western countries has become increasingly polarized. Many citizens, especially youth and students, have taken to the streets in protest against their governments’ complicity in the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Instead of addressing the root causes of this growing unrest, authorities have moved to suppress dissent. Pro-Palestinian voices are often criminalized, and efforts to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism are used as a tool to delegitimize valid political opposition.

This trend has been particularly noticeable in the United States, where university students have faced disciplinary actions, arrests, and even the withdrawal of funding for institutions that allow demonstrations. The Biden administration has maintained the same approach as its predecessors, remaining uncritical of Israeli actions while cracking down on voices that challenge the dominant narrative.

While any act of violence against civilians should be condemned and investigated thoroughly, it is also crucial to consider the context in which such incidents occur. The Boulder attack did not take place in a vacuum; it occurred amid widespread international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the global failure to hold Israel accountable.

In such a charged atmosphere, assigning blame or categorizing individuals as “terrorists” without fully exploring the underlying causes only serves to deepen the divide. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate and public frustration grows, Western governments would do well to listen to the concerns of their citizens rather than suppressing them.

What happened in Boulder is tragic and demands clarity and justice, but it should also be a wake-up call to those in power. Global support for the Palestinian cause is growing, not because of propaganda, but because people are witnessing injustice in real time. Rather than silencing these voices, it is time for the international community, especially those who claim to champion human rights, to confront uncomfortable truths and take meaningful action.