Protesters supporting Palestine take over building at Columbia University | Global News

Pro-Palestinian activists at Columbia University escalated their battle with administrators by occupying a building early on Tuesday. The protesters entered Hamilton Hall, a historic site of student protests, and hung a banner reading “Hind’s Hall” in honor of a six-year-old Palestinian child allegedly killed by Israeli forces funded by the university.

As tensions rose, protesters outside formed a barricade and blocked the doors with tables. The activists accused Israel of targeting civilians in Gaza, while Israel denied these claims, stating that militants hide among civilians.

Minutes after the occupation, New York City police arrived outside the school gates but did not enter unless there was an injury reported. The university then restricted access to the campus, allowing only students residing in residential buildings and essential employees.

The crackdown at Columbia came after the university began suspending pro-Palestinian student activists who refused to dismantle a protest camp on campus. This action followed failed negotiations between student organizers and academic leaders to end the demonstration.

The situation at Columbia is part of a larger trend of Gaza-related protests on U.S. university campuses. At the University of Texas at Austin, police arrested dozens of students at a pro-Palestinian rally, while at Cal Poly Humboldt University, police detained protesters occupying a school building.

The ongoing protests have sparked debates about free speech, activism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses across the country. The situation remains tense as students and authorities navigate the complexities of political expression and public safety.