Current and former Palestinian students and staff have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University in New York, alleging discrimination against Palestinians since late 2023.
The lawsuit said the university failed to protect its Palestinian members from harassment and targeted them through what it cast as "unfair and biased disciplinary hearings."
Columbia has previously denied being discriminatory and has condemned hate. Local media reported that it declined to comment on pending litigation. It did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Protests took place at Columbia and around the U.S. after the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas incursion.
Demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for its ally and called for the divestment of funds by universities from companies supporting Israel.
In May 2025, Columbia suspended more than 65 students for their role in shutting down the university's main library in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
That demonstration came as the university was negotiating with President Donald Trump's administration, which had cut its federal funding after accusing the university of tolerating antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests.
Protesters, including some Jewish groups, says opposing Israel's assault on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories is not antisemitic and advocacy for Palestinian rights should not be conflated with supporting extremism.
Columbia agreed to pay over $200 million to the U.S. government to resolve federal probes and restore most of the federal funding in July last year.
Free speech groups condemned Columbia's protest crackdown in which students faced arrests, suspensions, expulsions and degree revocations.
