More than 100 protesters gathered outside Columbia University Building The university’s student newspaper reported Tuesday night in response to the appearance of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Institute of Global Politics, School of International and Public Affairs, Kraft New York City.
“Discussions are an important part of what we are doing to make students work to explore, learn and grow,” said Brian Cohen, spokesperson for the Jewish Student Life Center of Columbia, in a statement to Fox News Digital about Bennett’s visit. “The event was not interrupted. Unfortunately, the current campus dynamics forced our event to open last night, only to invited students.”
Cohen added: “[s]Paintings of all backgrounds and political inclinations listen to world leaders and ask challenging questions – as one would expect in a world-class university. ”
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Columbia University campus in New York City when former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited New York on March 4, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu)
according to Colombian audience. Since Hamas’ first attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, numerous anti-Israel demonstrations have been held on university campuses across the United States, triggering the beginning of a 15-month war that killed thousands.
“The university coordinated public safety preparations with former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett with Columbia Hillel, including on any campus protests and minimize potential damage to academic activities,” Columbia University said in a statement Wednesday. “The participation in the event is good and held without interruption or disruption.”
The school said, “The Columbia community also protested from the outside, protesting in public places outside the University Gates, and the New York Police Department was responsible for the management.”
“As usual, we have monitored to ensure the safety of activities on campus and to comply with our rules and policies, including immediate enforcement to prevent discrimination or targeting targets against community members in any form,” the school said.
Major – Palestinian protesters gathered outside Columbia University in New York City on March 4, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu)
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“It is our responsibility to ensure that war criminals and genocides will never be welcomed on campus,” Columbia University Jewish Voices of Peace (Columbia JVP) said in announcing the protests.
The Instagram post includes photos of the event invitation, asking attendees to “minimize discussions with others about the incident” and describe their guests’ identities as “confidential.”
“The individual groups trying to undermine the incident proved that this is necessary precautions,” Cohen said of the decision to invite the incident only. “We are grateful that the NYPD has prevented protesters from reaching the venue due to our careful planning. Our activities are by no means affected by external damage.”
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“I look forward to once again we are able to provide such an important educational opportunity for the wider university community,” Cohen said.
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The ceasefire at Columbia University also issued a statement Tuesday ahead of the protests saying Barnard Hillel “deprived the vast majority of student groups of opportunities, an opportunity to engage in critical discourse with elected officials with real political power.”
“This is open to CBHillel’s repeated demands and dialogues on campus culture, especially given that this discussion is about the issue that raises such demands,” the organization wrote in its statement.
Protests come after President Donald Trump Say earlier this week “Federal funding will cease for any university, school or university that allows illegal protests.”
A group of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who gathered outside Columbia University, visited the campus on March 4, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu)
On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a review of federal contracts and grants in Colombia, which “may be a potential violation of Chapter VI of the Civil Rights Act” in light of the recent anti-Israel protests.
HHS said the federal government’s task force against anti-Semitism is considering stopping the $51.4 million federal contract with universities. The task force will also review the commitments of more than $5 billion in federal grants to the Ivy League University.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “In recent years, censorship and false narrative habits cancellation culture have transformed our great universities into this deadly and toxic plague. Making America healthy means building communities of trust and mutual respect based on freedom of speech and open debate.”
An official from the New York Police Department intervened in a pro-Israeli anti-coalition to attempt to attack pro-Palestinian protesters as they rally outside Columbia University in New York City to protest the visit of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on March 4, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu)
Hamas and Israel’s recent ceasefire agreement suspended the deadly war, resulting in Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals on October 7, 2023 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Six Americans Still Alive In Gaza.
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According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 46,000 Palestinians died in the war, half of which were considered women and children, although that number could be higher. During the war, more than 90% of the approximately 2 million Palestinians were displaced.
Fox News’ Alexis McAdams and Madison Colombo contributed to the report.
