Controversial Harvard students' letter supporting Palestine sparks increasing criticism

Prominent alumni and US lawmakers are railing against a letter from Harvard University student groups that blames Israel for the violence in the region. The letter, written by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and co-signed by 33 student groups, states that the students hold the Israeli regime fully accountable for the ongoing violence. The letter argues that Israeli violence has shaped every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years and accuses Israel of being an apartheid regime. It was published following an attack by Hamas militants, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,000 people and the kidnapping of 100, according to Israel. In response to the letter, former Harvard president Larry Summers expressed his disgust, criticizing the university's leadership for remaining silent on the matter. Several Republican US lawmakers, including Harvard alumnus Ted Cruz, also condemned the letter. Harvard University released its own statement, expressing sorrow over the attack by Hamas and the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Jewish center at Harvard, Harvard Hillel, called the letter a display of "further hatred and anti-Semitism." The letter was signed by various student groups, including the Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine, the Harvard Jews for Liberation, and the Harvard South Asian Law Students Association. Following the publication of the letter, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee claimed that its social media account had been temporarily suspended due to what it perceived as Meta's recurring censorship of pro-Palestine content.