Palestinian Protester Mahmoud Khalil Calls Out Columbia University in Fiery Op-Ed

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has taken aim at Columbia University in a pointed op-ed published in the school’s newspaper, accusing the administration of complicity in his recent detention by ICE agents. Khalil’s piece, titled "A Letter to Columbia," pulls no punches, alleging that the institution’s actions "laid the groundwork for my abduction."

Comparing his situation to the oppressive regime he fled in Syria, Khalil wrote, "The logic used by the federal government to target myself and my peers is a direct extension of Columbia’s repression playbook concerning Palestine." He also condemned the university for what he described as prioritizing the creation of "public hysteria about antisemitism" while ignoring the devastation inflicted on Palestinians.

In his op-ed, Khalil didn't hold back in criticizing some of his peers, accusing certain students of fostering a false narrative about antisemitism on campus and even working to unmask anti-Israel protesters. The activist went as far as to say, "If I were in Palestine, some of these students would be the ones stopping me at checkpoints, raiding my university, piloting the drones surveilling my community, or killing my neighbors in their homes." That level of raw, unapologetic rhetoric? It’s the kind of thing that grabs attention—and raises eyebrows.

Khalil also had sharp words for Columbia faculty, challenging them to go beyond "performative statements" and actively resist what he claims is the erosion of the university’s integrity. "Are your positions worth more than the lives of your students and the integrity of your work?" he asked.

This op-ed follows Khalil’s detention by ICE agents in New York City last month, with the Department of Homeland Security alleging he led activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Khalil’s arrest sparked protests on campus, with students chaining themselves to a gate at St. Paul’s Chapel and demanding the release of trustees' names who allegedly shared Khalil’s information with ICE. Columbia University has denied any involvement in requesting ICE's presence on its campus.

The controversy has also reignited debates about the university’s dual degree program with Tel Aviv University, which Khalil criticized as emblematic of the institution’s complicity in what he referred to as "genocide." He argued that while some students were building solidarity, others were returning from military service in Israel, only to claim victimhood in classrooms. Talk about a scathing indictment.

The Columbia Palestine Solidarity Committee has since vowed to keep up the pressure, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that "We will not leave until our demand is met." At the heart of this heated dispute lies a profound clash of perspectives—one that’s unlikely to simmer down anytime soon.