Amidst ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, a viral video featuring John Strauss, an Economics Professor at the University of Southern California, expressing strong animosity towards Palestinians has sparked outrage on social media.
The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 11,000, with thousands more injured, as the conflict extends over a month.
In the video, Strauss is captured stating, “Every one of them should be killed, and I hope they all are,” in apparent response to a question about Gaza or as a remark on pro-Palestinian students at the university. Palestinian writer Mohammed el-Kurd shared the video, denouncing the anti-Palestinian sentiment on U.S. campuses.
The video gained attention from an organization opposing Zionism, questioning USC on the teacher’s expression of hate. “@USC does this Professor represent your institution’s values? Has he been reprimanded in any way? Your students and all Americans who are against hate demand an answer,” wrote Stop Zionist Hate on X.
As the conflict persists and the Palestinian death toll rises, Muslim and Arab leaders are working to halt Tel Aviv’s actions. Saudi Arabia is currently hosting a joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh, where Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called for an immediate end to military operations, the release of hostages, and accountability for what he termed “crimes committed against the Palestinian people.” He also urged an end to the siege on the Gaza Strip.
