Outrage sparked by protest at George Washington University over Israel-Gaza conflict

A well-known American university has disowned a recent protest on its campus regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, following allegations of antisemitism. Police were called to intervene after protesters projected slogans onto a library at George Washington University in Washington DC. The university stated that the protest violated its policies and caused distress to some students. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to significant casualties, with claims from the Hamas-run health ministry that almost 6,500 people have been killed. One of the controversial messages projected onto the library building read, "Free Palestine from the river to the sea," which some activists consider a pro-Palestinian cry for independence. However, the Anti-Defamation League views it as a code suggesting Israel's destruction. Additional messages projected included "End the siege on Gaza" and "Divest from Zionist genocide now." Despite demonstrators explaining that the phrase "Glory to our martyrs" referred to all Palestinians killed by Israel, not just Hamas fighters, an antisemitism watchdog called for the involved students to be expelled. The university responded in a statement, emphasizing that the protest was unauthorized and did not reflect its views. University officials, along with campus police officers, asked four members of the group "Students for Justice in Palestine" to end the two-hour protest, but the group has not yet responded to comments by the BBC. A spokesperson for the group expressed frustration with the university's response, claiming a lack of respect for their lives and right to free speech.