Bay Area Schools Increase Security Measures Amid Pro-Hamas Threats
Schools and universities across the Bay Area are taking precautionary measures and in some cases canceling classes in response to threats of violence from pro-Hamas groups. Jewish institutions, in particular, have expressed concerns about being targeted.
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto, Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City, and South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale have announced that they will be closed on Friday to ensure the safety of their students and staff, according to a report by Jewish Weekly. These closures come as a response to fears that Jewish institutions could be potential targets.
Stanford Law School has also taken steps to ensure the safety of its students. The school has decided to hold all of its classes on Friday through Zoom, following students’ concerns about their safety on the “Day of Jihad.”
The recent closures and security measures come shortly after a former Hamas leader issued a global call for violence on Friday.
Other schools in the Bay Area, such as those in the Palo Alto Unified School District, have announced that they will be increasing campus security. Additionally, a preschool in San Francisco has arranged for increased security at its doors on Friday.
The Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco has decided to increase security and limit campus visitors on Friday and throughout the following week. However, they have encouraged students to attend classes in person, despite the fear surrounding the threats. The school has been in contact with security and threat assessment experts at the FBI, the San Francisco Police Department, and the Secure Community Network.
Officials from Brandeis, a K-8 Jewish day school in San Francisco, declined to comment when reached for a statement.
San Jose and San Francisco police officials have stated that they are closely monitoring any potential security threats and will be actively patrolling places of worship in their cities out of an abundance of caution. As of now, there is no information regarding any imminent threat of violence, according to a statement from the SFPD.
Earlier this week, some Jewish schools in the Bay Area asked parents to consider deleting social media apps from their teenagers’ devices. This request was made due to concerns that online images from the ongoing war in Gaza could be detrimental to the well-being of the students.
Authorities and school officials continue to work together to ensure the safety of students and campuses amid these threats. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the appropriate authorities.
For further information or inquiries, please contact Annie Vainshtein via email: [email protected].