Columbia University suspends Gaza protest students

Students at Columbia University in New York have been suspended for refusing to dismantle a protest encampment on campus against the war in Gaza. Negotiations between university leadership and the protesters have stalled, with President Nemat Minouche Shafik stating there had been no progress. Students demand divestment from assets supporting Israel’s military, increased financial transparency, and student amnesty. Shafik rejected divestment but offered to invest in Gaza’s healthcare and education and to increase transparency in direct investments. Students who fail to leave the encampment and acknowledge their participation face suspension, unable to complete the semester. Those who comply will be on disciplinary probation until June 2025 or until they graduate, though the implications of this are unclear.