Four Palestinian students and one faculty member have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University, accusing the institution of fostering a hostile environment and unfairly disciplining them in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. The complaint, lodged Monday in New York County court, alleges that Columbia engaged in discriminatory practices, including hiring private investigators to identify students involved in a pro-Palestinian teach-in.
The plaintiffs contend that the university failed to protect Palestinian community members from harassment, which they describe as "unrelenting doxxing" and abuse from other students and staff. The lawsuit states that Columbia "actively encouraged such harassment" through its actions and inactions, violating anti-discrimination policies.
The legal action also scrutinizes Columbia's response to pro-Palestine protests on campus, particularly the encampment established on April 17, 2024. The day after demonstrators set up tents, the New York Police Department arrested over 100 participants at the university's request. A second encampment in Hamilton Hall—a building with a history of protest during the Vietnam War and anti-apartheid movements—was cleared on April 30, 2024, leading to roughly 100 more arrests.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik had previously stated that the demonstrations "created an unwelcoming environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty." The university subsequently imposed disciplinary measures on student protesters, including multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions.
According to the lawsuit, Palestinian students were "absolutely terrified to come to campus" due to the university's treatment of protesters. It specifically cites the March 2025 arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green-card-holding graduate student and encampment leader, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the arrest, vowing to revoke visas and green cards of "Hamas supporters in America."
The plaintiffs also criticize Columbia for allowing outside law enforcement on campus, which one student said caused "severe and escalating anxiety." The complaint highlights Columbia's compliance with pressure from the Trump administration, which canceled $400 million in federal funding in 2025 over the university's handling of antisemitism. Columbia later settled with the administration, agreeing to pay $220 million to restore the funding.
The university declined to comment on the filing. This lawsuit comes amid broader debates over campus free speech and discrimination, as seen in recent changes to federal rules on school discrimination. Legal experts note that such cases could set precedents for how universities balance safety and protest rights.
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and policy changes to ensure equal treatment for Palestinian students and staff. The case adds to a growing list of discrimination lawsuits against educational institutions, including a recent settlement by OpenAI over hiring bias, though that involved different circumstances.
