Columbia University cited by Palestinian students: ‘Discrimination since the start of the war in Gaza’
The case has reignited the debate on the handling of protests on American university campuses, amid accusations of anti-Semitism, freedom of expression and the protection of students’ rights
A group of Palestinian students, former students and staff members have taken Columbia University to court, accusing the New York-based institution of engaging in discriminatory practices against the Palestinian community since late 2023, following the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas. This is according to documents filed with a New York court.
According to the plaintiffs, the university failed to adequately protect Palestinian students and staff from incidents of harassment and intimidation, and also targeted some of them through disciplinary proceedings described as ‘unfair and biased’. The case marks the latest chapter in the dispute that has been unfolding for almost two years at one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, which has become a symbol of the tensions within the American academic world over the Middle East conflict.
Columbia University has in the past rejected allegations of discrimination and has repeatedly condemned all forms of hatred.
The protests form part of the widespread demonstrations that have swept across US universities following the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. At Columbia, as on many other campuses, thousands of students took part in demonstrations calling for an end to US support for Israel and for universities to divest from companies deemed to be involved in supporting Israeli military operations.
The protests have turned Columbia into one of the main battlegrounds in the political and cultural clash over the conflict. In May 2025, the university suspended more than 65 students involved in the occupation of Butler Library, the campus’s main library, during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause.
