U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $26 billion aid package for Israel and Gaza this week, calling Israel’s security 'ironclad' while pledging humanitarian relief for Palestinians. But the move comes as student protests surge across American campuses, with Gen Z driving a seismic shift in public opinion—and politicians are feeling the heat.
Why Gen Z Backs Palestine?
Young Americans now sympathize more with Palestinians than older generations, polls show. For University of Michigan senior Joseph Fisher, the conflict hits close to home. As a Black mixed-race Southerner, he sees parallels between systemic oppression in the U.S. and Gaza’s crisis. 'It’s a moral responsibility to stand with the oppressed,' he told us. 🌱
From Ferguson to Gaza
This generational awakening began in 2014: As Israel bombed Gaza, Ferguson protests erupted after Michael Brown’s death. Palestinians shared tear-gas survival tips with U.S. protesters on social media. 'Young people see this as people of color rising against a white oppressor,' says Professor Eitan Hersh.
📱 Social Media’s Game-Changer
#FreePalestine dominated TikTok and Instagram, outnumbering pro-Israel hashtags by 26x. The result? Biden’s approval among under-35 voters plummets as 70% criticize his Gaza stance. Activist Matthew Duss warns: 'Only policy change—not PR—can fix this.'
Global Youth Unite
From Berlin to Cape Town, students protest Western support for Israel. In the UK, young adults are 3x more pro-Palestine than seniors. As Fisher puts it: 'This is part of a larger fight against imperialism and racism—just like Vietnam or South Africa.' 💥
With Gen Z’s voice growing louder, the question isn’t just about Gaza—it’s about who shapes tomorrow’s world. 🌏✨
