The Feelings and Thoughts of University Students in Türkiye Regarding the Events in Gaza

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Gaza has been on the agenda of world public opinion for many years with its ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises. This chronic conflict between Israel and Palestine has deeply affected not only the people of the region but also many people around the world. Although the historical background of the conflict is very deep, Israel is stated to be ignoring international law (Çakmak, 2009). For Jews without a state to resort to violence against the Palestinian people has become commonplace within the current occupation events (Çelik, 2021). The most important effective factor here is how they seize land by forcibly subjugating and displacing Palestinians (Thomas, 2009). Integrating the already occupied territories into Israel has continued as a basic policy (Balcı, 2010). The Jews, who were subjected to great suffering in continental Europe, expelled half of the Palestinian people from their own homeland at one time (Reinhart, 2002). This idea ignores international law, is detached from historical facts, and has caused great suffering to the Palestinian people in general and the people of Gaza in particular (Ekşi, 2019). Although reactions from all walks of life are found against all these events, the recent mass actions of university students in the global context are quite remarkable. University students in Türkiye also draw attention as an audience sensitive to these events. The aim of this study is to examine the feelings and thoughts of university students in Türkiye about the events in Gaza. While university students represent a young and dynamic demographic, they are also individuals with a high level of awareness and sensitivity to global events (Pew Research Centre, 2020).

History of the Conflict in Gaza and Global Reactions

Gaza has been at the center of a series of conflicts since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Since 2007 when Hamas took control of Gaza, embargoes and frequent military operations have made Gaza a focal point for humanitarian organizations and political actors worldwide (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East [UNRWA], 2021). These conflicts and embargoes have created a serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza and negatively affected health, education, and basic living conditions (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA], 2020). After 2006, Israel has made extraordinary efforts to break Hamas’ military resistance through land, sea, and air blockades (Ertürk & Sayın, 2021). This situation has often led to persecution, injustice, and violence. This is a direct consequence of Israel’s official policy, which continues to determine daily life in Gaza (B’Tselem, 2024). The international community’s response to events in Gaza has often been inadequate and delayed. Many international organizations have condemned Israel’s military operations against Gaza while at the same time criticizing the rocket attacks by Palestinian groups. This dual criticism often prevents effective steps toward conflict resolution and further complicates the situation (Amnesty International, 2023).

Sensitivity of University Students to Global Events

As future leaders of society, university students represent an audience that is sensitive to and aware of global events and crises. Young people’s sensitivity to global events is shaped by their media consumption habits, education level, and social environment. In this context, high-profile crises such as the events in Gaza lead to intense emotional reactions and high levels of awareness among university students. After the events of October 7, 2023 in particular, mass protests against the tragic situation in Gaza were noteworthy in Western universities. This has revealed university students to have a high level of empathy and solidarity toward international crises. These young people often follow global events through social media and other digital platforms and express their reactions to these events. This situation actually appears as a way for youths to prove themselves by showing their ambition for independence and rebellion against authority (Yılman, 1989). The situation in Gaza has also been an issue that university students frequently discuss and are emotionally affected by.

Present Study

This research aims to determine the feelings and thoughts of university students in Türkiye about the events in Gaza. In this context, the study will analyze how often students follow the events in Gaza, their emotional reactions to these events and their views on the attitudes of the international community and Türkiye. The study will also investigate the level at which students feel empathy and solidarity towards the events in Gaza. The findings of this study will make important contributions to understanding the level of sensitivity university students in Türkiye have toward global events and how these events are reflected in their emotional and intellectual worlds. In addition, this type of research can also form the basis for educational and awareness-raising activities to be carried out in order to increase young people’s awareness levels about global events and enable them to react more consciously to these events.

Method

Research Design

This research was conducted using a descriptive research design. Descriptive research aims to reveal a current situation by examining a particular case or phenomenon in detail (Karasar, 2016). This type of research is used to understand the current situation, causes, or effects of events and is usually carried out through data collection methods such as observation, questionnaires, or interviews (Creswell, 2012). The aim of the study is to determine the feelings and thoughts of university students in Türkiye regarding the events in Gaza. For this purpose, the study asked the participants various survey questions and measured their perceptions and emotional reactions. Descriptive research designs are a widely used method in social sciences and are used to understand what individuals or groups think, how they feel, and how they behave about a particular situation or event (Büyüköztürk, 2019). As such, this study analyzes the emotional and cognitive reactions of university students regarding the events in Gaza. Collecting the data through a questionnaire has provided comprehensive information about the participants’ demographic characteristics and their attitudes toward the events (Table 1).

Participants

Table 1

Percentages Based on Gender, Age, Grade, and Income Level

When analyzing the distribution of the participants according to their demographic characteristics, the majority are seen to be female (82.86%), with males (17.14%) being less represented. In the distribution according to age categories, more than half of the participants are understood to be in the 21-22 age range (54.29%), followed by the 20 or younger age group (31.43%). Of the participants, 8.57% are aged 26 or older, and 5.71% are between the ages of 23-25. According to grade level, most of the participants are 2^nd-year students (71.43%), with 3^rd– (22.86%) and 4^th-year students (5.71%) having lower percentages. In the distributions by income level, while most of the participants stated their income level as “Medium” (60.00%), the “Medium-High” (17.14%) and “Medium-Low” (14.29%) income levels are also prominent. “Low” (5.71%) and “High” (2.86%) income levels were found at lower rates. These findings indicate the sample group of the study to be largely composed of young, female, middle-income university students.

Data Collection Tools

In order to collect data, the study asked the participants various survey questions. These questions aimed to measure the participants’ feelings and thoughts toward the events in Gaza. In addition to demographic information, the questionnaire included questions on emotional reactions, perceptions toward the events, and views on the reactions of the international community. Some of the survey questions were multiple-choice, while other questions allowed participants to mark more than one option.

Process

The questionnaires were administered online using Google Forms and delivered to the participants on a voluntary basis. Participants were informed about the purpose of the study before completing the questionnaire and were assured that their identities would remain anonymous. Completing the questionnaire took approximately 15-20 minutes.

Data Analyses

The collected data were analyzed using the programs Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Max- qda 20. The study has calculated frequency and percentage distributions for the responses regarding the demographic characteristics and survey questions. The study has also analyzed the relationships between the participants’ emotional reactions to the events in Gaza and their perceptions of the reactions from the international community.

Findings

This section presents the results from analyzing the answers the university students gave to the questions about the events in Gaza.

Table 2

Participants’ Responses on How Often They Follow the Situation in Gaza

According to the data in Table 2, 34.29% of the respondents stated regularly following the situation in Gaza on a daily basis through news websites, social media, or other sources. 37.14% stated checking the situation and following updates on a weekly basis, 8.57% stated receiving information a few times a month, and 8.57% stated receiving information once a month or less. 5.71% stated rarely getting information, while 2.86% stated not following or having no information on this issue. These distributions show most of the respondents to have actively been following the situation in Gaza, with the combined percentages of those who follow the situation on a weekly and daily basis reaching a high rate of 71.43%. This shows that the participants have a high level of interest and awareness about the events in Gaza.

Table 3

Participants’ Views on the Effects the Events in Gaza Have Had on Them

According to these data in Table 3, 60% of the participants were affected and worried about the events in Gaza and stated that this situation to have upset and worried them. Meanwhile, 31.43% stated having been deeply affected and to have experienced very intense emotional effects, while 5.71% stated being indifferent to the events and not having been personally affected, and 2.86% stated not feeling any emotional or personal impact. These distributions show the majority of participants to be sensitive to the events in Gaza and this situation to have affected them emotionally. The high rates of participants choosing the “I am affected and worried” and “I am deeply affected” reveal the participants’ sensitivity toward the events. This shows the participants to have a high level of empathy and awareness toward the events in Gaza.

Table 4

Percentages on How Participants Felt When They First Heard News of the War

When analyzing the distributions in Table 4 for the emotions university students felt after hearing the news about the war in Gaza for the first time, the highest percentage (22.86%) appeared for feeling sadness, followed by empathy (20%), and solidarity and concern (each at 17.14%). While 14.29% of the students felt sadness, 8.57% felt inhumanity. Of the participants, 5.71% expressed feelings of uneasiness or of responsibility, while only 2.86% expressed feelings of indifference or of surprise, which was the lowest percentage. These distributions show most of the students to have had emotional and empathetic reactions to the events.

Table 5

Percentages of the Different Emotional and Behavioral Reactions to the Events in Gaza

Table 5 shows the emotional and behavioral reactions of university students to the events in Gaza. While 34.29% of the participants strongly agreed with the statement about being deeply affected by the events and experiencing intense emotions, 54.29% simply chose “Agree” for this statement. The percentages of those who stated that they “Strongly Agree” (42.86%) or “Agree” that the news of the war in Gaza affected them emotionally are very high. For the statement about the events in Gaza increasing their use of social media, 28.57% chose “Strongly Agree” while 42.86% chose “Agree”. The statement about the events decreasing their life motivation and energy also showed high agreement, with 34.29% choosing “Strongly Agree” and 42.86% choosing “Agree”. For the statement about experiencing a moral collapse, 22.86% chose “Strongly Agree” while 40.00% chose “Agree”. For the statement about their feelings of solidarity and unity having increased, 51.43% chose “Strongly Agree” while 42.86% chose “Agree”. The statement about boycotting Israeli products after the events in Gaza showed 37.14% to have chosen “Strongly Agree” and 42.86% to have chosen “Agree”. The statement about thinking that Western countries use double standards showed quite a high percentage (65.71%) to choose “Strongly Agree” while 28.57% chose “Agree”. Lastly, the statement about donating to aid organizations due to the events in Gaza revealed 34.29% to have chosen “Strongly Agree” and 40.00% to have chosen “Agree”. Table 5 shows that the events in Gaza had significant emotional and behavioral effects on the university students.

Table 6

Percentages Regarding the Response of the International Community to the Events in Gaza

Regarding the international community’s attitudes during the events in Gaza, Table 6 shows the majority of participants (60.00%) to think the international community did not intervene sufficiently or did not display an effective attitude. Also, 22.86% think the international community has adopted a negative attitude, while 14.29% have no clear opinion or are neutral. Only 2.86% believe that the international community is providing effective assistance and support. Regarding how the international community is handling the deaths and injuries in Gaza, 37.14% think it is inadequate, 22.86% think it is ineffective, and 28.57% stated the international community to be indifferent, while 11.43% think it is sensitive. When considering the difficulties experienced by the civilian population, 37.14% of the participants think the international community’s response is inadequate, 28.57% stated it to be ineffective, and 25.71% stated it to be indifferent, while 8.57% thought it had been responsive. When evaluating the efforts of the international community to resolve the events in Gaza, 42.86% of the participants think these efforts are insufficient. 34.29% stated the efforts to be ineffective, and 20.00% stated being indifferent, while 2.86% think the efforts are effective. In general, the majority of the respondents think the international community has not shown a sufficiently effective or sensitive attitude toward the events in Gaza. This shows the university students generally feel great dissatisfaction and disappointment with the attitude and efforts of the international community toward the events in Gaza.

Table 7

Percentages on Students’ Feelings About Türkiye’s Activities Regrading Gaza

Table 7 shows the majority of respondents (88.57%) to believe that Türkiye’s Gaza policy should be more active. In terms of diplomatic activities, 42.86% found Türkiye’s activities inadequate or ineffective, while 42.86% had no clear opinion. In terms of aid and support, 71.43% find Türkiye’s support inadequate. While 45.71% of the respondents found Türkiye’s solidarity to be effective, 37.14% thought that it was ineffective. The answers to the question of what Türkiye’s Gaza policy should be show 57.14% to want a policy focused on humanitarian aid and support to be pursued and 40.00% to want political and diplomatic efforts to be increased. The vast majority of respondents (82.86%) think that Türkiye’s Gaza policy should focus on humanitarian aid and support. Furthermore, 68.57% stated that political and diplomatic efforts should be increased. While 57.14% of respondents think that Türkiye should take an active role in international platforms, 45.71% advocate an active role in civil society organizations. Also, 25.71% think that efforts should be made for military intervention options, while 5.71% are undecided. In conclusion, the respondents want Türkiye to be more active and effective in its Gaza policies and suggest that humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts should be increased. At the same time, the vast majority of participants (80.00%) argue that the Palestinian cause should be supported but that Hamas should be kept at a distance.

Table 8

Students’ Feelings About the Ongoing Situation in Gaza (Multiple Options Possible)

Table 8 shows the distribution of respondents’ feelings about the ongoing situation in Gaza. The emotions with the highest percentages are empathy (70.0%), concern (65.0%), and solidarity (60.0%). This shows the majority of respondents to be trying to understand the difficulties the people in Gaza experience, to be concerned about the uncertainty and effects of the situation, and to feel a sense of support for the people in Gaza. Meanwhile, feelings of inhumanity (40.0%), anger (35.0%), and uneasiness (30.0%) were also significant. This indicates a large percentage of respondents to feel negative emotions as a result of the conflict and violence and to be concerned about the political and social impacts of the situation. The emotions with the lowest percentages were apathy (5.0%) and surprise (10.0%). This shows the majority of respondents to care about the situation in Gaza and to not be indifferent to it.

Conclusion

This research has revealed important findings by analyzing in depth the feelings and thoughts of university students in Türkiye regarding the events in Gaza. The findings show the majority of participants to closely follow the situation in Gaza and to have strong emotional reactions to the events. Of the respondents, 34.29% follow the situation in Gaza on a daily basis, and 37.14% follow the situation in Gaza on a weekly basis. This shows 71.43% of the respondents to have a high level of awareness and interest in the events in Gaza. Moreover, this reflects the sensitivity of young people to global events and their effectiveness at accessing information. The rate of those who rarely or never follow the events in Gaza is quite low, which indicates that students in general are not indifferent to such important global issues. Of the respondents, 60% were affected and concerned by the events in Gaza, while 31.43% were deeply emotionally and intensely affected. This shows the events in Gaza to have serious emotional effects on students. The rate of those who are unaffected or indifferent to the events is quite low (8.57%). The participants mostly evaluated negatively the attitude of the international community towards the events in Gaza, with 60% thinking that the international community has not intervened sufficiently or not shown an effective attitude and 22.86% stating that the international community has a negative attitude. These results show great dissatisfaction to be present among the students regarding the attitude of the international community toward the events in Gaza.

When evaluating Türkiye’s policies toward Gaza, a majority of participants (88.57%) think that Türkiye’s policies should be more active and effective, while 42.86% think that Türkiye’s diplomatic activities in Gaza are insufficient or ineffective, and 71.43% think that aid and support activities are insufficient. Although solidarity demonstrations are generally considered effective (45.71%), 37.14% of the respondents find these activities ineffective. In terms of what students think Türkiye’s Gaza policy should be like, respondents emphasized the need for a policy focused on humanitarian aid and support (82.86%). In addition, political and diplomatic efforts should be increased (68.57%), and a more active role should be taken in international platforms (57.14%). This shows that respondents want Türkiye to adopt a more humanitarian and diplomatic approach in its Gaza policies. Empathy (70.0%), concern (65.0%), and solidarity (60.0%) were the emotions with the highest percentages regarding students’ emotional reactions to the ongoing situation in Gaza. This indicates that the vast majority of respondents are trying to understand the difficulties the people in Gaza experience, are concerned about the uncertainty and impact of the situation, and feel a sense of support for the people in Gaza. Meanwhile, the percentages for feelings of inhumanity (40.0%), anger (35.0%), and uneasiness (30.0%) were also significant. This suggests a large percentage of respondents to be harboring negative emotions due to the conflict and violence and to be concerned about the political and social impact of the situation. Overall, this research reveals the sensitivity, empathy, and emotional reactions of Turkish university students toward the events in Gaza, highlighting the profound impact such crises have on young people. The dissatisfaction and expectations of the majority of the respondents toward the international community’s and Türkiye’s Gaza policies provide important clues that should be taken into account in future policy and strategy development processes.

Discussion

The findings from this study show that university students in Türkiye are sensitive and empathetic toward the events in Gaza. The majority of students actively follow the situation in Gaza and are deeply affected by the events. This shows that students have a high level of awareness and sensitivity toward global events.

Empathy and Solidarity

Similar studies in the literature have revealed young people to have high levels of empathy and solidarity toward international crises. For example, Kaynak et al. (2018) examined the sensitivity and empathetic reactions of young people to international crises and found this age group to generally have high levels of empathy and solidarity. The findings of the current study also support these results. The fact that most of the participants gave emotional and empathetic reactions to the events in Gaza shows that such crises have a deep impact on young people. Moreover, Okan et al.’s (2023) research on moral disengagement among young people in humanitarian contexts argued empathy to play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward refugees and crises.

Attitude of the International Community

The views that the international community has displayed an inadequate and ineffective attitude toward the events in Gaza are supported by the existing literature. For example, the Civil Society Development Center (Can, 2023) in Türkiye stated that the international community’s attitude toward humanitarian crises is generally inadequate. The need for the international community to play a more active and effective role in response to the events in Gaza is in line with the findings of this study. The majority of the respondents believe that the international community has been inadequate or indifferent in responding to the events in Gaza. This reveals that the international community’s policies toward crisis regions should be reevaluated. Additionally, Okan and Şahin (2023) found that individuals’ motivations for coping with crises are significantly influenced by the perceived inadequacy of international responses to such events.

Türkiye’s Gaza Policies

A large majority of the participants hold the view that Türkiye’s Gaza policies should be more active and humanitarian aid-oriented, and this reveals that humanitarian diplomacy should be given more importance in Türkiye’s foreign policy. Karasar (2016) drew attention to the importance of Türkiye’s role in humanitarian diplomacy. The participants’ most-preferred option was to have Türkiye pursue a policy focused on humanitarian aid and support. Their responses also emphasized that political and diplomatic efforts should be increased and a more active role should be taken in international platforms.

Emotional Reactions

The participants’ emotional reactions to the events in Gaza are consistent with other studies in the literature. For example, Kılınç and Taş (2017) stated that feelings of empathy and solidarity toward conflict zones significantly affect individuals’ emotional reactions. Similarly, the findings from the current study show that most of the participants stated emotional reactions such as empathy, sadness, and anxiety toward the events in Gaza.

Recommendations

1. Policy Recommendations: Humanitarian aid and support-oriented approaches should be prioritized in Türkiye’s policies toward Gaza, and international cooperation should be increased in this context.
2. Education Programs: Including topics such as humanitarian aid, global citizenship, and peace education in the curricula of universities can contribute to making students more aware and sensitive to such international
3. Research and Study: More academic research into events in Gaza and publicizing the results of this research can help raise
4. Civil Society Engagement: Civil society organizations should be encouraged to increase their aid and support activities in crisis areas such as Gaza and to actively involve young people in these

Media and Communication: Accurate and impartial media coverage of events in Gaza is critical to raising public awareness.

Peer-review
Externally peer-reviewed

Funding
This research received no external funding.

Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflict of interest.

Author’s ORCID numbers

Nesrullah Okan
0000-0002-9496-6417