On Nov 17th at 2:00pm, Hillel UBC will host an israeli occupation forces (IOF) soldier on UBC’s Vancouver campus. This comes one week after another IOF Soldier violently threw five students out of a locked room at Toronto Metropolitan University, leaving some hospitalized. Join us in telling UBC that the IOF is not welcome on campus.

The invited soldier, Itai Reuveni, served in active duty with the IOF’s 35th Paratroopers Brigade from 2001-2004, when the Brigade was accused of war crimes including unlawful killings and collective punishment in the Palestinian Territories. In October 2023, he rejoined the genocidal IOF to escalate against the Lebanese border. He is currently a reservist combat medic with the 35th paratroopers.

Reuveni is speaking at Hillel in his role as Director of Communications at NGO Monitor, a right-wing organization with close ties to the israeli government. NGO Monitor was founded on the basis of refusing to accept and abide by human rights and international law frameworks following the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. This group routinely defames nonprofits (including student groups) that speak up for Palestinian rights.

We all saw what happened the last time UBC welcome IOF war criminals to campus during the Invictus Games. Students and staff were harassed, followed, and interrogated by militarized police around campus. A staff member was illegally detained while doing his job. This is a stain on UBC's reputation. Shame on this university for continuing to platform war criminals who have participated in genocide.

The presence of IOF soldiers threatens the safety of students, staff, and faculty at UBC, especially Palestinian community members. UBC must commit to keeping its community safe. Join us in calling on the UBC President and UBC administration to keep the IOF off campus.