2 Brandeis Students Studying In Israel Amid Israel-Hamas War

WALTHAM, MA — Two Brandeis University students are studying in Israel this semester, putting them in the vicinity of the Israel-Hamas war, school administration said.

In a letter to the Brandeis community on Oct. 7, President Ron Liebowitz confirmed that two current students have been in contact with the university, and that school officials relayed that they will "support them."

Liebowitz also said that faculty are currently in the region and the university will "[monitor] the situation to help community members who may need assistance."

See Also: 3 Northeastern Students Abroad Evacuated During Hamas Attack In Israel

This comes as Brandeis celebrates its 75th anniversary with commemoration events. Those events will remain on the schedule, but university officials are taking note of the current moment and will make slight adjustments.

"Brandeis was founded 75 years ago in response to discrimination and antisemitism in higher education. At this moment in particular, we believe it remains critically important to acknowledge and commemorate our history, our mission, and our ongoing responsibility to students from all backgrounds," said Liebowitz.

"We are proud that decades later, for example, we still have an environment in which Jewish students can thrive and celebrate their identities openly; we have been true to our founding values."

Liebowitz shared that as events are scheduled throughout the week, the Brandeis Department of Public Safety is coordinating with outside law enforcement agencies to arrange for increased security.

Israel-Hamas War Day 6

According to the Associated Press, the death toll has risen to at least 2,600 after an attack on Israel by Hamas prompted days of airstrikes and rocket fire, leveling much of the Gaza Strip as Israel tries to wipe out the group.

On Wednesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel, causing a near-total power outage that has prompted international aid groups to warn that the death toll in Gaza is likely to rise after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to the tiny enclave while its crossing with Egypt is unusable.

Still, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until the captives were released. “Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home,” he tweeted.

A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that the lack of electricity could cripple hospitals.

“As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can’t be taken,” said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC’s regional director, according to the AP. “Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.”

Israeli military officials have also readied forces for a potential ground offensive into Gaza, according to the AP, which added that Palestinians are reporting that Israeli planes have dropped flyers warning them to evacuate.

“Anyone who is near Hamas terrorists will put their lives in danger,” the flyers said, according to the AP. “Adhering to IDF instructions will prevent you from being exposed to danger.”

This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.