Harvard student groups face backlash over statement on Israel-Palestine conflict

The statement holds Israel entirely responsible for the conflict and describes the Israeli regime as an apartheid system that has subjected Palestinians to violence for 75 years

Muslim Network TV Desk

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Harvard University is at the center of a heated controversy after a coalition of its student organizations issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli regime for the ongoing violence in the region.

The statement holds Israel “entirely responsible” for the conflict and describes the Israeli regime as an apartheid system that has subjected Palestinians to violence for 75 years.

The letter, released by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and co-signed by 33 student groups, sparked immediate backlash from several quarters.

“Today’s events did not occur in a vacuum. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison. Palestinians in Gaza have no shelters for refuge and nowhere to escape. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israel’s violence.,” the statement said.

“The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years. From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.”

Larry Summers, former Harvard president and ex-U.S. treasury secretary, expressed his outrage on X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

He stated that the letter left Harvard appearing “neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.”

The situation escalated as Harvard University responded with a letter expressing sorrow over the weekend’s events, specifically “the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel.”

The university’s president, Claudine Gay, in a subsequent statement, clarified Harvard’s stance, condemning the “terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.”

Many prominent figures voiced their concerns, including Harvard alumni like US Senator Ted Cruz, who criticized the university’s association with the student statement.

Harvard Computer Science professor Boaz Barak also expressed his condemnation on social media, suggesting the university should sever ties with the signatory student groups.

Harvard Hillel, the university’s Jewish center, labeled the student statement as a manifestation of “further hatred and anti-Semitism.”

Despite the strong opposition, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee defended its position, stating they “staunchly oppose violence against civilians.”

The controversy highlights the deep divisions and strong sentiments on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict, even within academic institutions such as Harvard.

As the debate continues, many are watching closely to see how one of the world’s most prestigious universities navigates this sensitive issue.