Pro-Hamas Protesters Disrupt Columbia Class, Target Jewish Students

On the first day of the spring semester at Columbia University, a group of pro-Palestinian activists disrupted a 'History of Modern Israel' class, handing out antisemitic flyers and chanting slogans. The flyers depicted violent imagery, including the Star of David being crushed and threats against Zionism, which prompted backlash from students and faculty. Columbia University's Interim President, Katrina Armstrong, condemned the disruption and stated that such actions violate university conduct rules, promising a swift investigation. The incident has drawn attention to ongoing tensions on campus related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with organized protests both for and against Israel taking place. Faculty members, including the class's professor, Avi Shilon, emphasized the importance of academic freedom despite the disruption. The university is also offering a course on Zionism amidst these tensions.