San Francisco State University cuts ties with weapon companies supporting Israeli genocide in Gaza

In a crucial win for Palestine advocacy in the US, San Francisco State University (SFSU) in California announced its decision to divest from arms companies involved in supporting the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

Throughout April and May, students across the US held demonstrations and set up encampments demanding that universities "disclose and divest" their investments in companies linked to Israel.

SFSU has divested from three companies, including Palantir Technologies, a U.S.-based data analysis firm; arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin; and Leonardo, an Italian multinational defense company. 

A fourth company, Caterpillar, a construction equipment manufacturer, has also been excluded from its investments.

The pro-Palestinian group,  “Students for Gaza”, held a news conference on Thursday at Malcolm X Plaza on the SFSU campus to formally announce the divestment decision.

"Students for Gaza" hailed this decision as a significant victory in their campaign to intensify efforts to end Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The demand for divestment from Israeli-linked companies was made by students at universities countrywide; however, SFSU is reportedly the first to take substantial action in response.

The changes at SFSU were introduced following a series of Zoom meetings over the summer, involving a working group comprised of representatives from Students for Gaza, the SF State Foundation investment committee, faculty members, and administrators.

Meanwhile, some universities in the US are considering legal action against students and enforcing policies to prevent future encampments on their campuses.

New York University (NYU) recently categorised critiques of Zionism as hate speech, a decision aimed at suppressing activism against Israel.

Officials from the California State University system stated they would not alter their investment policies in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

As per reports, Meta platforms are censoring anti-Israel content posted by students online.