UT Austin Students Reflect on One-Year Anniversary of the Israel-Hamas War

By Itza Martinez

Reporting Texas

Students lined up outside the UT Tower at ATIDNA’s joint peace memorial Austin, Texas on Oct. 13, 2024. (Itza Martinez/Reporting Texas TV)

AUSTIN, Texas –  Israeli flags rippled against the barricades as students gathered in line outside the Hogg Memorial Auditorium to honor the civilian lives lost in Israel on October 7. 

The Longhorn Students for Israel alongside Texas Hillel, Texas Chabad, Texas Olami, and other Jewish organizations hosted the “Together We Stand” memorial ceremony on the first anniversary since Hamas killed over 1,200 people at the Supernova Music Festival in southern Israel.

“I feel like if we didn’t have a memorial on such a large public school campus, especially in the state of Texas, that would be absolutely crazy. It had to be done,” said Jasmine Rad, co-president of Longhorn Students for Israel.

The event hosted nearly 1,000 people and highlighted student voices with personal ties to the attacks.

“One thing is certain: Israel is both right and righteous in pursuing the elimination of Hamas,” Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said in a video address that was presented during the ceremony.

Despite facing pushback after demonstrations on campus from the university last spring, Palestinian Solidarity Committee member Hadi said that they were determined to stay visible in their support of the Palestinian liberation and hosted a week of action during the week of October 7.

“We’re just basically here to show that no matter how long it goes on, no matter how long they try to censor or to put down justice, that justice will always prevail,“ Hadi said.

The death toll in Gaza since the October 7 attacks took place has surpassed 42,000.

“I think it’s very important that we make sure we uphold those values that the university has taught us… to make sure we fight for justice and fight for the truth, not only here, but also, for our brothers and sisters in Palestine and in Lebanon,” Hadi said.

The university is no stranger to the tensions that exist between both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student groups, but a UT organization ATIDNA is aiming to find a mutual understanding between the two. 

“I grew up going to Hebrew school on Sundays and going through that process I never heard the story of Palestinians. If I did hear anything about Palestinians it was typically something negative,” said Elijah Kahlenberg, President and Founder of ATIDNA International. 

The name ATIDNA combines the Hebrew word ‘atid’ and the Arab suffix na which means ‘Our Future.’

Kahlenberg said the organization was made to create a space for peaceful dialogue between Jews and Arabs.

“We can create a space where we can mourn for and with each other. And that is what I’m trying to bring to campus, to break down the narrative that we have to be divided. because I truly believe our two peoples are one family,” Kahlenberg said.