The administration of Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis has taken the significant measure of associating a pro-Palestinian student group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), with terrorism. They have directed state universities to prohibit the group, alleging its support for Hamas militants who recently attacked Israel.
Amid escalating Israeli actions in Gaza, several college students have shown support for Palestinians.This has led to criticism from some Jewish scholars and potential employers. However, Florida’s stance is more severe, accusing the SJP of endorsing a “terrorist organization.”
Ray Rodrigues, the State university system Chancellor, instructed university leaders to dissolve SJP chapters. Rodrigues referenced the group’s statement, emphasizing the involvement of Palestinian students in the movement.
“Based on the National SJP’s support of terrorism, in consultation with governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated,” Rodrigues wrote in a memo to university leaders.
“It is a felony under Florida law to ‘knowingly provide material support … to a designated foreign terrorist organization,’” Rodrigues said in the letter.
The US State Department labeled Hamas as a terrorist entity in 1997.
Governor DeSantis, a presidential candidate, has amplified his pro-Israel position following the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7. These attacks sparked global demonstrations both for and against Israel, with Israel retaliating with airstrikes. DeSantis has dispatched aircraft to Israel for supply purposes and to bring back Floridians wishing to return.
DeSantis also advocates for a special legislative session to introduce new sanctions on Iran, a Hamas supporter, and to show solidarity with Israel. To date, no evidence has been provided linking Iran directly to the attacks.
The SJP has been present on US campuses for years, advocating for Palestinian liberation and promoting boycotts against Israel. They claim to have over 200 chapters nationwide.
Palestine Legal, which offers legal aid to pro-Palestinian groups, views the SJP ban as an attempt by DeSantis to curb freedom of speech in educational institutions.
Under DeSantis’s leadership, Florida has restricted discussions on race in schools, barred state universities from funding diversity and inclusion programs, and implemented other measures perceived as curtailing free speech.
SJP is a key player in the BDS movement, which calls for boycotting, divesting from, and sanctioning Israel due to its treatment of Palestinians.
(With inputs from agencies)