Student protests in the U.S. over the war in Gaza have intensified and expanded over the past week, with a number of encampments now in place at colleges including Columbia, Yale, and New York University.

New York

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Student protests at universities across the United States have surged over the conflict in Gaza, with the movement now spanning from coast to coast. Colleges such as Columbia, Yale, and the University of Southern California have seen significant mobilizations. Students have set up encampments on campuses, leading to occasionally clashing with police forces. These protests are part of a wider call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a cessation of U.S. military assistance to Israel.

The demands of the protesters are threefold. They are calling for universities to divest from Israel and from companies that profit from the war in Gaza. Moreover, they want full financial transparency regarding university investments and are demanding amnesty for those who have been arrested, disciplined, or terminated due to their involvement in activities supporting Palestinian liberation. Demonstrations have attracted a diverse group of students and faculty, including individuals of Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Key organizing groups behind these protests include Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. While the organizers have expressed a strong condemnation of violence against pro-Israel counter-protesters, there have been incidents of anti-Semitic chants directed at Jewish students, exacerbating feelings of insecurity and targeting on campuses.

The administrative and law enforcement response to these protests has been robust. Columbia University's President Minoushe Shafik had the New York police intervene to dismantle an encampment, citing violations of rules against unauthorized protests. In the wake of the protests, some universities have opted to temporarily suspend in-person classes. Additionally, hundreds of arrests have been made, with dozens of students suspended from their studies.

In a notable development, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University to engage with Jewish students who have felt intimidated by the anti-Israeli sentiment among some demonstrators. His message to the protesters was clear: "Go back to class and stop the nonsense."



What's behind pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities?

Students clashing with police. Tents set up on college campuses. Across America, chaos engulfs universities as pro-Palestinian protests spread coast to coast. Let's take a look at what's behind these demonstrations. Protesters at major universities like Columbia, Yale and University of Southern California are calling for permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US military assistance for Israel. They also want universities to divest assets from Israel and from arms suppliers and other companies profiting from the war in Gaza. We have three demands. Divest all finances. Two, provide financial transparency of all investments. And three, ensure amnesty for all students and faculty arrested, disciplined or fired in connection with the movement for Palestinian liberation. Pro-Palestinian protests have drawn students and faculty from various backgrounds, including those of Jewish and Muslim faiths. The groups organizing the protests include Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. Organizers have widely condemned violence against pro-Israel counter-protesters, but some Jewish students say they have faced anti-Semitic chants. And when you're an Israeli student on this campus, you feel like you have a target on your back. You feel unsafe. School administrators and local law enforcement have cracked down on protests. Hundreds have been arrested and dozens have been suspended from studies. Columbia University President Minoushe Shafik called in New York police to clear the encampment on campus, saying it violated rules against unauthorized protests. They asked us to come on the campus to take action and we did. Some universities temporarily canceled in-person classes. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia to meet with Jewish students intimidated by some anti-Israeli demonstrators. My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense.

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Israel-Gaza War