A recent development in Dearborn, Michigan, highlights the national divide over the Israel/Hamas war, which kicked off on October 7 when the terrorist group launched a surprise attack on Israel. The fighting has claimed over 2,000 lives so far and is expected to intensify when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) begin its ground incursion into the Gaza Strip, the territory Hamas controls.

On Friday, thousands of high school students in Dearborn walked out of their classes to protest Israel’s counterattacks against Hamas, which involved a series of airstrikes and a limited ground invasion in the region.

During the march, students were caught on camera chanting slogans like “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” The latter chant echoes rhetoric used by radical Islamic terrorist groups to signal their intention to destroy Israel as a Jewish state. Others chanted the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar,” which translates to “God is great.”

BREAKING: Hundreds of students at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn initiate walkouts early Friday in an effort of solidarity with Palestinians amid Mideast turmoil.

Over a million Gazans have been displaced as a result of Israeli forces’ evacuation orders. ⁦@detroitnews⁩ pic.twitter.com/TqUr6YZAB1

— Jakkar Aimery (@WordsByJakkar) October 20, 2023

Thousands of students walked out of Dearborn high schools Friday to stage a pro-Hamas protest.

This was outside Edsel Ford High School: pic.twitter.com/QwPTlLSI3D

— The Midwesterner (@Th_Midwesterner) October 20, 2023

Thousands of students walked out of Dearborn high schools Friday to stage a pro-Hamas protest, reportedly chanting "Allahu Akbar."

Here, they chant "From the ground to the sky, I support Palestine" outside Edsel Ford High School: pic.twitter.com/kYkubViYmp

— The Midwesterner (@Th_Midwesterner) October 20, 2023

David Mustonen, a school district spokesman, told The Midwesterner News that the students “exercised their First Amendment rights.”

School administrators didn’t seem to care about the defiant act.

“They exercised their First Amendment rights, exited the school and walked around the building and came back in for second and third hour,” district spokesman David Mustonen told the News. “There were no issues. The students were outstanding and very well behaved and very respectful. They all returned to class.”

The war in Israel has elicited various opinions on the conflict. Most Americans support Israel’s right to defend itself. But some, including members of Congress, have sided with the Palestinians and Hamas. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) recently beclowned herself by parroting the false narrative about Israel bombing a hospital in Gaza City. Even after reports debunked the narrative, she continued to double down.

🚨 Breaking: @elonmusk removed New York Times' verification badge, following a flood of false information it published on the Israel-Gaza war 👇 pic.twitter.com/qljbsNRhlN

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 20, 2023

Those on the Palestinian side of the debate argue that Israel is using disproportionate force to battle the terrorist group. They also blame the Jewish state for oppressing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. On the pro-Israel side, people point out the fact that Hamas started the conflict by launching its attack on October 7, deliberately targeting civilians – including children. Those in this camp also point to the actions terrorist groups and Arab nations have taken to exacerbate the conflict and keep the fighting going. Meanwhile, civilians on both sides of the conflict are suffering.

As the situation in the Middle East intensifies, it can be expected that the debate in the Western world will also become more fiery.