QUB students face a difficult dilemma: Should Hillary Clinton be removed as chancellor, following her dismissal of a Gaza ceasefire?
By Ellen Lundy
The urge for students to call for the removal of Hillary Clinton from her role as chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, citing her opposition to an Israeli ceasefire, have reached a resounding level.
In a discussion panel at a Rice University Baker Institute event in October, she asserted that those advocating for a ceasefire “do not understand Hamas” and insisted that ending the violence is “not possible.”
Clinton claims a ceasefire would be a “gift to Hamas,” providing them with an opportunity to acquire arms and formulate an effective strategy against future Israeli assaults.
She has reiterated these views on platforms such as The View and at the Baker Institute’s 30th Anniversary Gala in October.
These remarks faced criticism in Northern Ireland, with Fiona Ferguson, a People Before Profit councillor, sharing a clip on social media, stating,
“The student movement at Queen’s should be calling for this warmonger to be removed.”
People Before Profit leader, Gerry Carroll, further supports her removal as chancellor, emphasising that the university “should have no truck with apartheid Israel’s backers.” He endorses “calls by Queen’s University students to remove Hillary Clinton from her chancellorship.”
Along with the comments made on social media, a general pro-Palestinian sentiment is evident in Belfast. For example, on November 18, over 3,000 people gathered at Writer’s Square calling for a boycott of companies with investments or links to Israel. Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments, urging young people to educate themselves on the conflict and comparing the “history of Palestine” to the “history of Ireland.”
Despite the criticism, Clinton clarified her position in an op-ed in the Atlantic titled “Hamas must go,” as she agreed with the Biden administration’s view that a full ceasefire would empower Hamas. However, she advocated instead for humanitarian pauses which would allow aid to reach Gaza’s civilians and hostages held by Hamas.
As of November 22, mediators have announced a four-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, set to begin on the morning of November 24. The deal includes the return of 50 hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
Over 11,000 Palestinian deaths have been reported by the Gaza-run health ministry since the beginning of the war with an estimated 1,200 people killed in Israel following Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Israel agreed to extend the truce by one day for every further 10 hostages that Hamas releases.
Despite the “humanitarian pause,” some remain uncomfortable with Clinton’s refusal to endorse a ceasefire. Pro-Palestinian campaigner John Hurson criticised Clinton, stating that she “has a record of being on the wrong side of history.” He highlighted the contrast between Queen’s University Belfast’s portrayal of Clinton as a “peacemaker” a year ago and her defense of “Israeli genocide.” He called for the university to sever ties with her immediately.
Queen’s University declined to comment on the backlash when approached by the Irish News.
Edited by Luke Dunlop
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/02/hillary-clinton-columbia-walkout-palestine
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