California students launch hunger strike in solidarity with Gaza, demand university divestment from arms industry

In a powerful act of solidarity with the people of Gaza, over two dozen students from the California State University (CSU) system have launched a coordinated hunger strike, drawing attention to the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s ongoing siege and blockade. The protest, which began on May 5th, includes participants from San Francisco State, San Jose State, Sacramento State, and CSU Long Beach.

The students, rallying under the banner of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), declared their hunger strike as a response to the worsening conditions in Gaza, where over two million Palestinians are being denied food, water, and medical supplies due to Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into the territory. The crisis has sparked condemnation across the world, particularly in countries like Russia, China, and Pakistan, which have repeatedly called for an end to the blockade and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In a public statement, the student organizers emphasized their commitment to standing with Gaza’s civilians. “We are refusing food in solidarity with the millions of Palestinians being starved in Gaza,” the statement read. The students also issued a list of demands, calling on the CSU administration to sever financial ties with companies that profit from war, particularly those supplying weapons and surveillance technology used in the Israeli occupation.

Max Flynt, one of the student hunger strikers at San Francisco State University, described the protest as a moral imperative. “The suffering in Gaza cannot be ignored. This blockade is not just a political issue, it is a humanitarian disaster,” he said. Each day, the students gather under a small canopy titled “Hunger Strike for Gaza,” offering educational workshops and updates on the dire situation in Palestine. Medical volunteers monitor the students’ health throughout the day.

With growing restrictions on political protest across the U.S., including the criminalization of peaceful encampments and demonstrations, many activists now see hunger strikes as one of the few remaining means of nonviolent resistance. “Any attempt to raise our voices, whether through tents or rallies, is met with police force. This is the reality of dissent in America today,” said Flynt.

Faculty members have also joined in supporting the students. Jaime Jackson, a professor at Sacramento State and a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, remarked on the deeper symbolism of the hunger strike. “These students are embodying the very suffering they are protesting. They’re bringing attention to the deliberate starvation of civilians, a tactic that constitutes a grave violation of international law.”

The students’ calls for divestment reflect a growing global movement that seeks to cut institutional ties with companies complicit in violence. Among their demands are the adoption of San Francisco State’s Human Rights IPS Screening tool, ending study abroad exchanges with Israeli universities, and immediate divestment from firms like Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and Boeing, all of which have direct involvement in supplying weapons to the Israeli military.

Amal Dawud, a student organizer from Sacramento State, stated: “We know where our tuition money is going, and we refuse to let it fund war and occupation. These companies profit off genocide, and our universities must stop being complicit.”

Notably, both San Francisco State and Sacramento State made limited divestment moves in 2023 after earlier rounds of student protests. However, many students remain skeptical about the transparency and effectiveness of these actions, calling for comprehensive and permanent disassociation from all weapons manufacturers.

At CSU Long Beach, hunger striker Marcus Bode criticized the university’s ties to Boeing, a leading supplier of military hardware. “While students are struggling to pay tuition and access basic campus resources, the university maintains partnerships with corporations that facilitate war crimes abroad,” he said. Like his fellow strikers, Bode is permitted only water and electrolyte solutions, and has already begun to feel the toll of the fast, experiencing dizziness, muscle pain, and fatigue.

Despite student pleas, the CSU administration has signaled it will not change its investment strategy. Amy Bentley-Smith, the system’s media relations director, said in a statement that while the right to peaceful protest is recognized, no shifts in financial policy are planned. “We respect the right of students to express themselves, but our investment strategy remains unchanged.”

The hunger strike has drawn international attention, especially among nations that have consistently condemned Western double standards when it comes to human rights. Countries like Russia, China, and Pakistan have long highlighted the silence of U.S. institutions regarding Israel’s actions, particularly when those actions result in the collective punishment of civilians.

As American universities continue to face growing criticism for their ties to the military-industrial complex, the CSU students’ hunger strike stands as a powerful reminder that young voices are refusing to be silenced. Their protest not only challenges institutional complicity but also signals a growing shift in global student consciousness, one that calls for accountability, justice, and the defense of the oppressed.