Students for Palestinian Liberation (SPL) is a club at Fresno State dedicated to spreading awareness about Palestinians’ struggle for justice by creating an inclusive environment for education and advocacy for the people of Palestine.

Rahaf Qutob, the president of SPL, believes that it’s critical for people, especially students, to stay informed about Palestine’s ongoing struggle for justice. 

“Awareness builds empathy, critical thinking and a stronger sense of justice,” Qutob said. “By understanding what’s happening in Palestine, students can connect global issues to their own lives and become advocates for positive change.”

According to Reuters, Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip have killed over 60,000 people and injured more than 150,000 people. Among those thousands of people, about a third of the dead were under the age of 18.

The survivors are trapped in famine, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, with nearly 2.1 million people facing extreme hunger. 

Many supporters of Israel say that these actions are justified following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, where Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, targeting a music festival that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. 

Israel claims that it has a right to defend itself following the attacks and has taken serious military action in Gaza.

The United Nations (UN) has since declared Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide, citing mass civilian deaths and deliberate deprivation of necessities.

Despite the UN declaring the actions taken a genocide, some people say there can be a lack of awareness about Palestine.

Alle Her, vice president of SPL, said she was drawn to the club after noticing a lack of local discussion about the crisis, despite seeing it widely talked about among friends and on social media. 

When the club held its first general meeting in December 2023, Her was eager to get involved, seeing SPL as a space that aligns with their beliefs.

“I joined Students for Palestinian Liberation because I wanted to be part of the on-campus community that was spreading awareness for the genocide that was sparked in October,” Her said.

SPL’s faculty adviser, Everett Vieira, who began serving in mid-Spring 2025, said the organization emerged from conversations among students passionate about Palestine.

“My understanding is that a number of my former students were discussing a student group regarding Palestine, but then the events of Oct. 7, 2023, hastened the creation of SPL,” Vieira said.

For Her, SPL became more than just a student organization — it became a community of shared purpose. However, she fears that rhetoric from national leaders could put that sense of community in jeopardy.

President Donald Trump has targeted college students and universities that have been involved in pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests, according to National Public Radio. 

SPL members hope that students begin to understand how deeply connected global issues are to their own lives. Her believes that actions by the U.S. government regarding Gaza might be how the U.S. will treat its own people.

“We are all connected: from the corners of this campus, from business to art to engineering to healthcare majors, and from the West Coast to the coasts of Gaza,” Her said.

She points to the deployment of the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids as ways that the U.S. has treated its citizens in ways that the U.S. has treated Palestine.

“What we remain silent about and let our corrupt governments do abroad in Palestine, they will eventually inflict on us,” Her said. “‘Not my country, not my concern’ cannot be an excuse anymore.”

According to Democracy Now!, Trump signed an executive order to combat “the explosion of antisemitism on our campuses and streets.” These threats include stripping federal funding from universities, deporting foreign students and expelling American students.

In the past, Trump equated protests for Palestine as “pro-jihadist” and said they would find and deport anyone who was involved in one. He also threatened to cancel student visas for foreign student’s calling them “Hamas sympathizers” if they support Palestine.

Her says this rhetoric is what sparked groups like SPL to organize and come to be.

“Statements from national leaders, particularly those who oppose the movement toward Palestinian language, continue to show us at SPL how much our organizing work is absolutely needed,” Her said. “This has empowered grassroots organizations to mobilize even more to champion their causes, SPL alike.”

Vieira noted that Fresno State’s administration has been supportive of SPL’s activities — something not all universities have experienced.

Still, safety concerns remain a major issue.

“I think there have been serious concerns regarding member and supporter safety and security,” Vieira said. “Given the deportation order that was issued for Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and legal U.S. resident who led pro-Palestinian protests, a number of our members have had concerns about backlash.”

Because of the reaction elicited by Trump, Qutob said they have faced obstacles amid the political climate.

“We don’t let it get in the way because we always remember our purpose, which is to advocate for the people who are truly struggling in Gaza,” Qutob said.

Despite the growing tension surrounding activism on college campuses, members of SPL remain steadfast in their mission. The group continues to emphasize that its advocacy extends beyond politics, focusing instead on universal human rights and solidarity. 

“We are cognizant of the fact that remaining calm, cool and collected is always the best way forward to advocate for our mission,” Vieira said.

While criticism and fear of backlash have challenged their efforts, SPL leaders like Her say these obstacles only strengthen their resolve to educate others.

In the past, one of the ways SPL raised awareness was their peaceful sit-in protest on May 1, 2024, at Fresno State, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for Fresno State to divest from Israel. 

About 250 people attended, including students, staff, administrators and community members, according to The Collegian. They did this alongside many other universities that held encampment protests across the country.

SPL members are encouraged to attend educational events to learn more about the genocide, now declared by the UN, that Palestine is facing in order to continue in their pursuit of awareness.

Qutob was inspired by her passion for teaching and helping others when she decided to start the club three years ago.

“This club allows me to share knowledge, raise awareness and support students in learning about Palestine and its culture while fostering advocacy and understanding,” Qutob said.

Qutob said it’s crucial to be aware in order to understand that this is majorly about standing for human rights, justice and freedom.

“Supporting Palestine means supporting a people who are facing hardship and advocating for dignity and equality for everyone,” Qutob said. “Always stand for humanity.”

Qutob said that students interested in joining SPL should keep up to date with events by following the group on Instagram.