Three Palestinian Students, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, Shot in Vermont Attack

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Three Palestinian students were shot near the University of Vermont’s campus in Burlington, United States, on Saturday evening. The victims have been identified as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, who are studying at different universities in the US. Two of the victims are currently in intensive care, while one was expected to be released on Sunday. The incident has raised concerns about rising anti-Palestinian sentiments in the US.

The Ramallah Friends School in the occupied West Bank, where the three students studied, expressed deep distress about the incident. In a statement on Facebook, the school said, “[We] are deeply distressed by the recent incident involving three of our graduates. While we are relieved to know they are alive, we remain uncertain about their condition. We extend our thoughts and prayers to them and their families for a full recovery, especially considering the severity of the injuries – as Hisham has been shot in the back, Tahseen in the chest, and Kinnan with minor injuries.”

The motive behind the attack remains unknown. The Burlington police did not respond immediately to requests for further information when contacted by Al Jazeera. However, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) believes that hate was a motivating factor in the shooting. According to the ADC, the victims were wearing a keffiyeh (traditional Arab scarf) and speaking Arabic when they were harassed and shot by an unidentified man.

ADC’s Director Abed Ayoub called for a thorough investigation into the incident, stating, “Given the information collected and provided, it is clear that hate was a motivating factor in this shooting. We call on law enforcement to investigate it as such. The surge in anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment we are experiencing is unprecedented, and this is another example of that hate turning violent.”

The incident occurred at a time when anti-Palestinian sentiments have been on the rise in the US. Despite the mounting Palestinian death toll and allegations of war crimes, both Republican and Democratic politicians have shown support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Israel’s ground and air assault on the besieged Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of more than 15,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction.

It is crucial to address and condemn acts of violence motivated by hate and discrimination. The shooting of these Palestinian students highlights the urgent need for promoting tolerance, understanding, and respect among different communities. Authorities must thoroughly investigate the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, and work towards creating an environment free from hatred and prejudice..