Police in New York have apprehended a suspect for questioning after Jewish students at Cornell University received threats of violence. The threats, which were posted on the Greekrank website, were made by a user named Hamas, who specifically targeted Jewish students at the prestigious university. Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that a suspect has been identified but has not yet been named by the police. Ms Hochul, who visited the Cornell campus, expressed her commitment to combating hate and bias. The Cornell Daily Sun reported on a series of anti-Semitic comments left on Greekrank, a platform used by many students at the university. The threats included specific mentions of the on-campus kosher dining hall. The authenticity of the messages and their source have not been independently verified. One of the posts, titled "if i see another jew," contained derogatory slurs and threats of violence, stalking, and rape against Jewish individuals. Molly Goldstein, co-president of the Cornell Center for Jewish Living, stated that Jewish students on campus are terrified for their lives and that she never expected such incidents to occur at her university.

These threats against Cornell's Jewish community come at a time when anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise nationwide. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a congressional committee, stating that anti-Semitic abuse in the US has reached "historic levels." He highlighted that despite Jewish Americans representing only 2.4% of the population, they account for about 60% of all religious-based hate crimes. Wray mentioned that these figures have likely increased since the Israel-Gaza conflict erupted in October. In response to the escalating incidents, the Biden administration announced measures to combat anti-Semitism and hate speech on campuses, including enhanced communication with local, state, and federal authorities.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has contributed to heightened tensions among students on university campuses in the US. At George Washington University, police were called to address anti-Semitic messages projected onto a campus library. Additionally, an elite law firm revoked job offers for three Ivy League students due to letters expressing support for Palestinians and blaming Israel for the Hamas attacks.

Cornell University has increased security measures at its Jewish center on campus following the appearance of anti-Semitic posts online. The university has alerted the FBI to investigate the potential hate crime. Martha Pollack, the president of Cornell, declared that the university will not tolerate anti-Semitism. The Biden administration has also taken steps to combat anti-Semitism on American campuses. Governor Kathy Hochul, who visited the campus, emphasized the government's commitment to preventing threats, hatred, and anti-Semitism. Although the posts have been deleted, some are still visible on an archiving website. The Cornell Daily Sun shared screenshots of other messages, which contained similar slurs and threats against Jewish individuals. The appearance of these messages followed the discovery of anti-Israel graffiti on campus.

The Cornell University Police Department has increased patrols and arranged additional security for Jewish students and organizations on and off campus. The university remains in constant communication with these groups. President Pollack acknowledged the impact of anti-Semitism on the Jewish community and the entire Cornell community. Students at various US colleges have reported an increase in intimidation during the Israel-Gaza conflict. A student from Gaza expressed feeling unsafe on Columbia University's campus during a protest, while an Israeli student admitted to being afraid to disclose her Jewish identity to classmates.

In response to the rising incidents, the Biden administration announced that the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education are collaborating to address anti-Semitism and hate speech on campuses. The government aims to enhance communication with local, state, and federal authorities.

Cornell University responded to the online anti-Semitic threats by dispatching campus police to its Jewish center. The university referred the case to the FBI as a potential hate crime. Cornell President Martha E. Pollack affirmed that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated and those responsible for such threats will face legal consequences. The university's police department issued a community threat alert and indicated that the targeted locations were chosen due to the perpetrator's bias. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions on US college campuses. Russell Rickford, an associate professor at Cornell, sparked controversy for expressing support for Hamas during a pro-Palestinian rally. He later apologized for his remarks.

Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the hateful posts and stated that New York State Police are involved in the investigation. She reassured university leaders that the state police and government will support their efforts to ensure campus safety while upholding the right to free speech and peaceful assembly.

The Biden administration introduced new measures to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses, responding to a significant increase in incidents since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security will collaborate with campus law enforcement to monitor hate-related rhetoric online. According to the Anti-Defamation League, incidents targeting Jewish individuals have risen by 388% compared to the same period last year. The White House has faced criticism for allegedly prioritizing attention towards the Jewish community over Muslim and Arab American communities, which have also reported threats and incidents. In recent days, the administration has increased outreach, with President Biden calling the family of a young Palestinian American boy killed in a hate crime and aides reaching out to Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian American elected officials across the country.