US university students associate Israel with genocide

University students in New York, specifically at New York University (NYU) and Columbia University, are increasingly associating Israel with the term “genocide” due to military operations and human rights concerns in Gaza and the West Bank.

Interviews with students revealed that for many, the primary associations with Israel include Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestine, and genocide. One student described the perception of Israel as a country using military force against the vulnerable. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett noted this shift in American public perception, suggesting that Israel has become a “negative brand” among the youth in the United States.

Separately, social media reports have highlighted footage of Israeli soldiers celebrating following the explosion of a mosque in Gaza, contributing to international scrutiny of the military's actions.