In the midst of escalating chaos at Columbia University, radical anti-Israel activists voiced their support for Hamas at a recent event. Charlotte Kates, international coordinator of Samidoun, praised the group as “defenders of Palestine” despite their deadly attacks. Her comments came after Hamas’s October 7 assault, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis. Kates’s husband, Khaled Barakat, a senior member of the terror organization PFLP, echoed her sentiments. Barakat has a history of incendiary remarks equating Israelis and Nazis. The event sparked widespread anger on campus, with protestors demanding the university divest its financial ties to Israel. Jewish staff and students have expressed concerns over alleged antisemitic incidents, leading one rabbi to urge Jewish students to leave campus due to fears of violence. Amidst these tensions, Columbia University suspended in-person classes. Professor Shai Davidai accused the university of prioritizing the safety of pro-Hamas extremists over Jewish faculty. As protests continue, the university administration faces the challenge of balancing academic freedom with the concerns of Jewish students and staff.
Radical Anti-Israel Activists Defend Hamas at Columbia University Amid Protests
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