Across US university campuses, a surge of student discontent targets President Joe Biden for his response to the Gaza conflict. From Columbia University on the East Coast to Stanford University in California, students stand in solidarity with Palestinians, placing blame on Biden for civilian casualties inflicted by Israeli forces in Gaza.

“The Washington Post” detailed Columbia University’s decision to shift classes online, while Yale University saw arrests of numerous student protesters. Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian demonstrators established encampments, amplifying tensions nationwide over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“The New York Times” reported arrests at New York University amid pro-Palestine demonstrations. At the University of California, Berkeley, pro-Palestinian students erected approximately 15 tents, according to “The Mercury News.”

Videos and images of these protests circulated widely on social media, including footage from Columbia University where an Indian student led a passionate demonstration echoing the slogan “Azadi. Le Ke Rahenge Azadi.”

The White House condemned these protests, equating them to terrorist rhetoric, while President Biden affirmed condemnation of anti-Semitic acts. Amidst the ongoing protests, Columbia University announced virtual classes to alleviate tensions and strategize next steps.

Senators Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley called for National Guard intervention at Columbia University, prompting solidarity from scores of professors. In Boston, students at Boston University protested the arrests at Columbia, joined by counterparts at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Tensions escalated at campuses in New York and Connecticut,” as per “Boston Globe,” with students occupying tent encampments in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Harvard College suspended its Palestine Solidarity Committee amidst these developments.”

Also read: Gaza: Collateral institutional damage