The protests on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have taken on a new level of urgency and gravity with the hospitalization of student activist Maya Abdullah. After enduring nine days of a hunger strike in protest against the Israeli blockade on Gaza and in support of divestment from Israel, Maya collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
Her hospitalization has intensified the already charged atmosphere at UCLA, where students continue to protest what they perceive as their institution’s complicity in the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Maya’s collapse has become a focal point for the student movement, igniting renewed criticism of the university’s administration and their handling of pro-Palestine demonstrations. With viral videos circulating online showing Maya being carried away on a stretcher, her story has become a symbol of both the depth of conviction among student protesters and the perceived indifference of university leadership.
As Maya herself declared before being hospitalized, “The University has failed to speak directly to me about my hunger strike,” adding that those who lead such institutions are “directly profiting from the slaughter of children.”
The Rise of Campus Protests in the Wake of the Gaza Conflict
The movement at UCLA is part of a larger wave of student-led activism across the United States in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For many students, the conflict has taken on personal and political urgency, prompting direct actions such as sit-ins, encampments, and hunger strikes.
Students like Maya Abdullah have become central figures in this movement, embodying the frustration and desperation felt by many who are disillusioned with what they perceive to be institutional silence or complicity.
These protests are not merely symbolic; students are demanding tangible changes. Chief among these demands is that universities divest from companies and interests that support or profit from the Israeli military occupation and blockade of Gaza.
The hunger strikes that have taken place at institutions like Yale, Stanford, and California State University schools represent the protesters’ refusal to remain passive while their universities continue business as usual. In their eyes, the refusal to divest is a moral failing that must be met with sustained resistance.
The scene at UCLA has reflected the intensity of this broader movement. Protesters have erected encampments, held rallies, and organized teach-ins to inform the campus community about the situation in Gaza. They’ve accused UCLA of not only ignoring their calls for divestment but also failing to engage with them in any meaningful way.
NEW: UCLA Pro-Palestine protester rushed to the hospital after collapsing on Day 9 of her hunger strike.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 19, 2025
The protester, 'Maya', and her friend are blaming UCLA for her hospitalization and decision not to eat any food.
"This is what happens when UCLA ignores their students …… pic.twitter.com/fQwuTZIQSn
Maya Abdullah’s hunger strike was intended to force the administration to acknowledge these demands, but her hospitalization has instead highlighted the silence and lack of response from university officials.
A Symbol of Sacrifice and Institutional Indifference
Maya’s decision to go on a hunger strike was not taken lightly. For days, she consumed no food in an effort to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pressure UCLA to take action. She became one of several students across the country who resorted to this extreme form of protest, drawing inspiration from historic hunger strikers who used their bodies as instruments of political resistance.
Her deteriorating condition and eventual collapse have stirred anger among her fellow students and supporters. A video that quickly gained traction on social media begins with the message, “This is what happens when UCLA ignores its students. This is on you, UCLA.” In the footage, Maya is shown being placed on a stretcher, surrounded by concerned peers who blame the university’s lack of engagement for her dire condition.
While Maya was hospitalized, the administration has largely remained silent, further angering students. Many have called for UCLA to publicly acknowledge Maya’s hunger strike and to commit to opening dialogue with protesters. The refusal to engage, they argue, represents a larger trend among universities across the country: a reluctance to address controversial issues head-on for fear of backlash or reputational damage.
But to students like Maya, the stakes are too high to remain silent. In a pre-recorded video message released before her hospitalization, she accused university leaders of profiting from the violence in Gaza, stating, “The people who run these universities directly profit from the slaughter of children.”
This statement captures the anger and despair felt by many young activists, who believe that their educational institutions have not only failed them but also contributed to global injustice.
A Growing Movement Beyond UCLA
While Maya’s story has captured national attention, she is far from alone. Across the country, students have been mobilizing in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Encampments, rallies, and hunger strikes have become regular features on college campuses. At George Washington University, recent graduate Cecilia Culver made headlines with a powerful speech criticizing her alma mater’s ties to Israel.
Speaking in front of a roaring crowd, Culver declared, “I cannot celebrate my own graduation without a heavy heart, knowing how many students in Palestine have been forced to stop their studies, expelled from their homes, and killed for simply remaining in the country of their ancestors.”
Her words echoed the sentiments of students everywhere who are demanding that their universities take moral responsibility for their financial and political connections. In Culver’s case, she even called on graduates and alumni to withhold donations until George Washington University discloses and divests from its ties to Israel. This type of economic protest adds another layer to the movement, challenging institutions not just morally, but also financially.
Back at UCLA, Maya’s hospitalization has strengthened the resolve of her fellow protesters. Students have vowed to continue their actions until the administration agrees to engage in a transparent conversation about divestment. Many believe that if Maya’s sacrifice does not lead to change, then more drastic measures may be necessary.
The situation also raises broader questions about the responsibilities of educational institutions in times of global conflict. Are universities merely places of learning, or do they also have a moral duty to reflect the values and demands of their students? For many young activists, the answer is clear: silence in the face of injustice is complicity.
Maya’s story, though tragic, is a powerful reminder of the human cost of inaction. Her hunger strike and subsequent hospitalization are more than just personal sacrifices—they are acts of political resistance aimed at shaking an indifferent system.
The fact that her condition reached such a critical point without any meaningful response from the university is a damning indictment of how institutions often treat student activism: as a nuisance to be managed rather than a cry for justice to be heard.
The coming weeks will be crucial. If UCLA continues to remain silent, it may face escalating protests and growing public scrutiny. Conversely, if it chooses to listen—to truly listen—to its students, it might begin to rebuild trust and demonstrate that it stands for more than just prestige and profit.
For now, Maya remains a powerful symbol of the student movement: resilient, courageous, and willing to put everything on the line for a cause she believes in. Whether her efforts will lead to real change remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—her voice, and the voices of those standing beside her, will not be silenced.