Columbia University has imposed severe penalties on students involved in last year’s pro-Palestine protests at the Manhattan campus. The actions stem from the April 2024 occupation of Hamilton Hall, during which demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the building, demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel and for the university to divest from Israeli companies. Following a review, Columbia has issued multi-year suspensions, expulsions, and even revoked degrees in some cases.
While the university did not disclose the number of students affected or their identities due to privacy concerns, it stated that the punishments were based on the severity of their actions during the protest. The demonstration was part of a larger wave of pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests on campus. Columbia also claimed that the protesters vandalized Hamilton Hall, further justifying the harsh disciplinary measures.
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This decision comes amid heightened tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S. Recently, Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia postgraduate student, was arrested by U.S. immigration authorities due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. Khalil remains in custody, although his deportation has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
In addition, Khalil and seven other unnamed individuals have filed a lawsuit against Columbia, seeking to prevent the university from handing over student activists’ personal information to lawmakers in Washington. The lawsuit follows a request from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is investigating pro-Palestinian demonstrations linked to anti-Semitic concerns.
These events also coincide with President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to cut $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing concerns over anti-Semitism connected to such protests.
