In a shocking turn of events, Russell Rickford, an associate professor at Cornell University, made controversial remarks during a pro-Palestine rally, referring to Hamas's attack on Israel as “exhilarating” and “energising”. He seemed to argue that the attack, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 Israelis, was a "challenge to the monopoly of violence" and had shifted the balance of power. Rickford's comments sparked outrage among attendees, with one student, Ethan Glezer, stating that the professor's words were "directly in support of violence". Glezer, who has Israeli heritage, emphasized the suffering and terror that Hamas inflicts on Jewish civilians.

However, Rickford later clarified his statement, asserting that he was only referring to the initial phase of the attack when Hamas broke through the border fence separating southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. He claimed that during those first few hours, it symbolized resistance and a new phase in the Palestinian struggle. Rickford acknowledged that Hamas is a fundamentalist organization and reiterated that he abhors the killing of civilians.

Following the incident, Cornell University attempted to distance itself from Rickford's remarks. In an open letter, Martha Pollack, the university's president, expressed her disgust at statements that "glorify the evilness of Hamas terrorism". She emphasized that those making such statements do not represent the views of Cornell University.

This controversy at Cornell comes in the wake of another incident at Stanford University, where a lecturer allegedly ordered Jewish students to stand in a corner, made minimizing comments about the Holocaust, and referred to Hamas as “legitimate” and "freedom fighters". Stanford's president and provost subsequently announced that the non-faculty instructor involved had been suspended due to reports of inappropriate conduct in addressing the Middle East conflict.

The sentiments expressed by Rickford and the Stanford lecturer have sparked widespread debate among universities and their respective communities. Critics argue that these incidents not only promote violence and ignore the suffering of Israeli civilians but also display a lack of understanding of the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, supporters argue for the importance of free speech and the need to address the ongoing oppression of Palestinians.

These events highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within academic institutions, as universities grapple with maintaining a balance between free speech and fostering inclusive and respectful environments for all students.