On the other side of the world, the Israeli-Palestinian war rages. Civilians are killed, injured, and displaced in Israel and its surrounding Palestinian territories. From the United States, the war seems so distant, so unattached from our daily American lives. And while this is somewhat true for the majority of U.S. citizens, this point of view differs for certain ethnic and religious minorities living here, who are being forced to bear unreasonable consequences.

Once a matter of professional foreign affairs, the war in Israel has turned heavily political, dividing the world into two main groups: Pro-Israeli and Pro-Palestinian.

In reality, this conflict has gone back for 75 years, and is tangled into intricate history, culture, and various political niches. There might not be a true right or wrong side, as atrocities have been committed on both Israelis and Palestinians. However, this point has been ignored by many who are quick to choose a side.

Because of all this, there has been a stark uptake in hate crimes in the United States.

Across the country, Jewish Americans have been harassed, assaulted, and even killed in shows of antisemitism that have struck fear in their communities. Some have chosen to hide any indicators of their Jewish heritage, including kippahs (traditional head coverings) and Star of David necklaces, and some have even stopped going to synagogue altogether.

“It must be really scary for Jewish Americans,” says Aveline Harding, a freshman at Glades. “What’s happening in Israel isn’t their fault at all. And having to worry about hiding their religion because of potential violence is horrible.”

And it’s not just antisemitism that has risen due to the war. Islamophobia is now at a record high, with Americans who are Muslim or of Arab descent being tormented as well. Some mosques have even been targeted under the assumption that all Muslims support Hamas and their acts of terror upon innocent civilians. Palestinian-Americans have been threatened and murdered as well.

“It’s so messed up that anyone with any ethnic or religious connection to the war is being attacked for it,” says freshman Giovanna Nishizawa. “That war is happening thousands of miles away— neither Muslim nor Jewish Americans have any control over what is going on there.”

There’s an idea of ‘justice for the oppressed’ that is being used to justify violence, racism and discrimination all over the country. It must be understood that people cannot be lumped into groups and demonized as one, especially based on race, religion, or ethnicity.

At this point, a line has been crossed between righteousness and hate.