The air attacks, which were followed by ground attacks days later, were Israel’s response to repetitive rocket firings into Israel from Hamas. The most recent rockets were launched after Israel closed checkpoints and stopped materials from entering Gaza, said Kenneth Waltzer, MSU director of Jewish studies.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has existed for years, but has heated up after a six-month cease-fire ended in December.

“People were angry, but couldn’t do anything about it,” Aqel said of the Gaza airstrikes. “If they try to protest, the Palestinian authority suppresses them immediately.”

Aqel said his aunt and uncle advised him not to go see the protest in Hebron, because if the police’s use of tear gas is ineffective, they could also shoot rubber bullets, and then ammunition. The length of time between police use of tear gas and rubber bullets and ammunition is extremely small, he said.

After the outbreak, Aqel said he didn’t go anywhere for about five days.

“Nobody wanted to go anywhere because everyone was feeling down,” he said. “I was worried that something would break out in the West Bank and I wouldn’t be able to leave.”

The Michigan Peace Team, a Lansing-based organization that has participated in several protests against the violence in the Gaza Strip, organized a 70-person protest in East Lansing on Jan. 8.

“(The protests) are against violence in general being used to stop problems, but right now Israel’s response to Hamas is so disproportionate — hundreds and hundreds were killed, and hundreds more wounded,” said Mary Hanna, operations manager for the Michigan Peace Team. “The ends don’t justify the means.”

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks, and 13 Israelis also have died, according to The Associated Press.

“If any responsible country in the world were hit by rockets unceasingly, it would feel the need to respond in some way or another,” said international relations sophomore Geoff Levin, an Israel advocacy intern for the MSU Hillel Jewish Student Community Center.

“Although the causalities of the recent rockets were rather light, I’d say Israel, like any other state, has not only the right, but responsibility, to respond to terrorism.”

The fact that Israel has begun ground strikes rather than airstrikes shows that it cares about sparing innocent civilians, because the attacks can be directed at a more specific target, Levin said.

“There’s a good chance (the rocket attacks) will happen again. I think if the international community doesn’t want Israel to be attacking Hamas, they’re going to need to be making sure Hamas doesn’t attack Israel,” he said.

Neither side is going to get what it wants, Waltzer said.

“I don’t think Israel is going to be able to engage in a regime change in Gaza,” he said. “I don’t think Hamas can really deliver for its people in the longer run.”

Despite the recent conflict, five MSU students are headed to Israel this semester as part of an independent study program, Waltzer said.

The university’s Risk and Security Assessment Committee has recommended unanimously that Israel study abroad programs continue, but that the university remains watchful, he said. None of the students traveling have expressed concern, he said.

“Most people who know enough about Israel, know that if you’re in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, these are safe places. They’re out of the range of what’s happening in the south in Gaza,” he said.

“On the other hand, when stuff goes on like it is in Gaza, you have to be concerned and watch every day to see if new developments tip the balance, (then you) might have to re-evaluate.”