Pro-Palestinian students in the United States have rejected an order from university officials to dismantle a tent camp set up to protest Israel’s war in Gaza or face suspension.
University authorities of Columbia University in NYsent students a letter Monday requiring them to sign a form pledging to obey the university’s policies until June 2025 or an earlier graduation, if they wish to finish the quarter in good standing.
If they did not comply by 2:00 p.m. local time, the letter said, they would be suspended, pending further investigation, and would not finish the term, according to the memo.
A George Washington University student waves a Palestinian flag during a protest Sunday. Photo: AP
A pro-Israel counter-protester at Columbia University. Photo: Reuters
But those in the camp, now in its second week, voted almost unanimously to stay, Sky’s US partner NBC said.
Around 2:45 p.m., protesters were seen marching into the courtyard and chanting “Disclose! Divest! We won’t slow down, we won’t rest!” NBC said.
More than 300 people and at least 120 tents remained.
Noting that exams are beginning and graduation is approaching, the letter said: “We urge you to withdraw the camp so as not to deprive your fellow students, their families and friends of this momentous occasion.”
Mahmoud Khalil, the protesters’ chief negotiator, said university representatives began handing out notices at the camp shortly after 10 a.m. Monday.
Protesters set up tents in the center of Columbia’s campus in one of the first protests.Palestinian Protests over the war between Israel and Hamas and its increasing death toll were large, but dissent quickly spread to other universities, leading to clashes with police and arrests.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
At least 25 dead in Israeli attacks in Rafah
More than 900 people have been arrested throughout the United States since The NYPD dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest camp in Columbia, arresting more than 100 protesters while doing so, on April 18.
Clashes have continued and about 275 people were arrested Saturday at several campuses, including Indiana University in Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis.
Barricades torn down by protesters at a student encampment at George Washington University in Washington. Photo: AP
On Sunday night and Monday, people at an encampment near George Washington University in the US capital protested, breaking and dismantling barriers.
Protesters at Yale University set up a new encampment with dozens of tents on Sunday afternoon, nearly a week after police arrested nearly 50 protesters and cleared a similar encampment.
Read more:
Student protests against Israel continue to sweep the US.
University protests summarize a moment of division
Man arrested over swastika sign at London protest
A student camp at George Washington University. Photo: AP
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas wasaccording to local health officials, who say about two-thirds of the dead are women and children.
Israel declared that it was in Hamas and unleashed an air and ground offensive in Gaza in response to the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
Hamas killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took another 250 hostages in its attack.