{"id":172275,"date":"2024-10-10T13:12:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T11:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=172275"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:30","slug":"students-and-staff-reflect-on-violence-in-gaza-at-three-locations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/10\/10\/students-and-staff-reflect-on-violence-in-gaza-at-three-locations\/","title":{"rendered":"Students and staff reflect on violence in Gaza at three locations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around 130 staff and students from Erasmus University and Erasmus MC <\/span>gathered on Tuesday to remember healthcare workers and others who have died <\/span>in Gaza and Lebanon. The commemoration at Erasmus MC took place outside, <\/span>as demonstrators do not always feel there is space for such events indoors. <\/span>People also came together at Erasmus University College and on the Woudestein <\/span>campus to reflect on the violence in Gaza.<\/span><\/p>\n

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At Erasmus MC, staff and students commemorated the violence against \nhealthcare professionals in Gaza.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

At the Erasmus MC commemoration, held on the pavement outside the building, <\/span>not all 595 confirmed names of healthcare workers and students who died in <\/span>Gaza were read aloud. Between speeches, around two hundred names were <\/span>read, according to Geke Hasperhoven, doctor-researcher from the Erasmus MC <\/span>Palestine Advocates Team, abbreviated as EMPA-T (read: empathy). <\/span>The names <\/span>of doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, medical students, dentists, microbiologists, <\/span>midwives, and other healthcare professionals were mentioned. \u201cI find it special <\/span>to think that we all have a counterpart there\u201d, said Hasperhoven while the <\/span>reading continued.<\/span><\/p>\n

Familiar with fear<\/h2>

Earlier, Hasperhoven referred in her speech to the attack on Erasmus MC, just <\/span>over a year ago. \u201cWe know the fear of having to evacuate patients. That fear is <\/span>familiar to us. No one is safe when hospitals are attacked,\u201d said Hasperhoven.<\/span><\/p>\n

White coats<\/h2>

On 7 October, Hamas attacked a music festival in Israel, and on 8 October, <\/span>Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza. These attacks have continued for <\/span>nearly a year, also through ground operations. This is why the commemoration <\/span>was held on 8 October.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the hour-long gathering, students and staff, some in white coats, came <\/span>and went. A few bystanders also watched. The attendees are frustrated<\/a> that <\/span>Erasmus MC had not spoken out about the attacks on doctors, ambulances, and <\/span>hospitals. \u201cOur requests to rent a room have to be approved by the Executive <\/span>Board\u201d, said Hasperhoven. \u201cFor other political themes, this is not the case. Our <\/span>lunch meetings haven\u2019t appeared on the intranet since the first time, and <\/span>wearing a protest pin is no longer allowed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

'Everyone is included'<\/h2>

A spokesperson for Erasmus MC responded to this, saying: \u201cWe treat every <\/span>patient, regardless of background, faith, or political preference. The same <\/span>applies to our students and staff; everyone is an Erasmus MC member, and <\/span>everyone belongs. Erasmus MC does not take a position in this war. Staff are <\/span>free to express their opinions in a personal capacity and participate in <\/span>demonstrations or memorials.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the prohibition of wearing pro-Palestinian pins, the spokesperson <\/span>said: \u201cAt Erasmus MC, we have guidelines regarding the attire of certain <\/span>professional groups on the work floor (nurses, lab staff, logistics, etc.). This does <\/span>not apply to office workers.\u201d The spokesperson added that the relevant group <\/span>could use the part of the intranet where they can post meetings in the calendar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chants in front of a locked building<\/h2>
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Staff and students protesting in front of the closed Erasmus Building.<\/span><\/p>

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On the Woudestein campus, about fifty students and staff also paused to reflect <\/span>on what they called the \u2018ongoing genocide of Palestinians and the brutal attack on Lebanon\u2019<\/a>. They walked from Erasmus Plaza to the entrance of the Erasmus <\/span>Building, where they chanted protest slogans and gave short speeches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon arriving at the Erasmus Building, containing the offices of the Executive <\/span>Board, the doors were immediately locked. This did not deter the demonstrators, <\/span>who had no plans to enter the building. However, some visitors had to find a <\/span>different entrance.<\/span><\/p>\n

'Complicit in genocide'<\/h2>

Professor of Sociology Willem Schinkel (ESSB) gave a short speech in front of <\/span>the building, calling the relatively low turnout at the protest \u2018indicative\u2019 of \u2018what <\/span>kind of institution this is.\u2019 He added: \u201cThis institution is complicit in genocide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Associate professor Isabel Awad (ESHCC) called the gathering valuable because <\/span>it allows people to \u2018seek support from each other, knowing you are not alone in <\/span>your concern about the genocide. It\u2019s hard to follow the news every day, but we <\/span>have a responsibility to keep listening and to continue following what is <\/span>happening there.\u201d Shortly afterwards, the group dispersed.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Erasmus University College in the city centre, about thirty students and staff <\/span>took to the streets to protest the violence in Gaza. They hung a banner on the <\/span>building\u2019s facade, calling for an \u2018end to the genocide\u2019 and a boycott of Israel. <\/span>Things remained calm here as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t

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Lees meer<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t