Harvard Jewish affiliates join nationwide demand for release of Palestinian activist

(MENAFN) On Sunday, a coalition of almost 80 Jewish affiliates at Harvard University, featuring more than 30 faculty members, has issued a statement condemning the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, joining a growing national outcry from academic circles.

The statement, signed by almost 3,000 faculty members, staff, as well as students across U.S. universities, directly challenges the arrest of Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and green card holder known for his involvement in campus pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in 2024.

The signatories explicitly reject the use of antisemitism accusations to suppress pro-Palestinian activism. “We are united in denouncing, without equivocation, anyone who invokes our name — and cynical claims of antisemitism — to harass, expel, arrest, or deport members of our campus communities,” the statement asserts.

The document calls on university leadership to “reject the dangerous narrative” conflating pro-Palestinian advocacy with antisemitism. It further demands universities cease cooperation with federal immigration authorities, allocate “institutional resources” to secure Khalil’s release, and protect campus members from potential government retaliation for expressing their views.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber, while vocal on federal research funding cuts, has not publicly addressed Khalil’s arrest or other related controversies, including substantial financial penalties levied against Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. The statement from Harvard’s Jewish affiliates underscores a growing tension between academic institutions and federal actions perceived as infringing upon free speech.

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