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Since the outbreak of a new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict on October 7 last year, the Israeli military's military operations in the Gaza Strip have killed 34,488 Palestinians and injured 77,643 people. Columbia University has recently erupted in student protests, demanding that the US government stop its military support for Israel and calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, the protests escalated, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of students by the New York Police Department.
The protesters organized several demonstrations and rallies inside and outside the school, expressing their positions through speeches, distributing leaflets, etc. They stressed that Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip have caused a large number of civilian casualties and violated international law and humanitarian principles.
New York Police Commissioner John Chell said at a press conference on Wednesday that most of the 300 people arrested were students of City College. He stressed that the police took necessary actions to maintain public order and ensure that the protests would not escalate into violent conflicts.
This wave of protests is not limited to Columbia University. Similar protests have also erupted in colleges and universities in many parts of the United States, including the University of Southern California and the University of Texas at Austin. Students strongly condemned Israel's military actions and asked the US government to take more active measures to promote a peaceful solution.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott even threatened to send protesting students to jail, a remark that sparked widespread criticism.
On the White House side, spokeswoman Robin Patterson condemned anti-Semitic and hate speech at a press conference on Thursday, while emphasizing that peaceful protest is the freedom and right of Americans. She said people have the right to express their views on war and conflict, but this right should be exercised within the legal framework.
The White House is closely following developments and trying to strike a balance between supporting Palestinian students and maintaining the country's foreign policy.
At present, the conflict between Israel and Palestine is still ongoing, and the international community calls on both sides to exercise restraint and find a peaceful solution through dialogue and consultation. At the same time, students in American universities will continue to pay attention to the situation and express their positions and demands in various ways. On April 30, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel will take military action in the southern Gaza city of Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire and hostage release agreement is reached.
Columbia University, located in Morningside Heights in Upper Manhattan, New York City, is a prestigious private research university affiliated with the Ivy League, known for its outstanding academic achievements, innovative research, and profound impact on society. The university has trained a large number of outstanding talents and made pioneering contributions in many fields. It is one of the important centers of higher education in the world.