US University to Divest from Arms Firms Backing ’Israel’s’ War on Gaza

By Staff, Agencies

The University of San Francisco [USF] has announced it will divest from four major weapons and surveillance corporations involved in supporting "Israel’s" ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Effective June 1, the university will sell its stock holdings in Palantir, L3Harris, GE Aerospace, and RTX.

These companies have faced criticism for their business dealings with the "Israeli" entity and operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. While a USF spokesperson, Kellie Samson, asserted that the decision was not directly influenced by student activism, pro-Palestinian student groups are hailing the move as a significant victory.

“For over a year, we demanded the university sever ties with 'Israel'. Now, USF has committed to divesting from companies fueling the genocide in Gaza,” said one protest leader. USF law student Alia Sky added that this was just the beginning, and further action would be pursued in support of Palestinian rights.

Activists are urging the university to go beyond this step, calling for a full divestment from all endowments and investments tied to the "Israeli" occupation, and the cancellation of any academic programs, trips, scholarships, or partnerships connected to "Israel".

Earlier protests saw students occupy USF’s Gleeson Library atrium, renaming it after journalist Hossam Shabat, who was killed in an "Israeli" airstrike in northern Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, when the Hamas resistance launched a retaliatory operation against the occupying entity, "Israel" has waged a devastating war on Gaza, killing at least 52,535 Palestinians—mostly women and children—and injuring over 118,000 others. Despite the staggering death toll, the entity has failed to accomplish its stated objectives.