In a strong statement, Speaker Mike Johnson accused Hamas of backing the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrations taking place at Columbia University and other American colleges. He warned that if these protests continue, Congress may intervene by potentially withdrawing federal funding from these institutions.
In a post on X on Thursday morning, the top House Republican, Johnson, expressed his concern over the protestors who were waving flags for the very people responsible for the horrific acts committed by Hamas. Johnson stated that this behavior goes against the values of America. However, it should be noted that ABC News has not found any evidence of protesters waving Hamas flags, as Johnson had suggested.
Student protests at Columbia and other schools mainly condemn Israeli military action in Gaza and show solidarity with Palestinian civilians, rather than endorsing Hamas. School administrators and officials have confirmed that the demonstrations on their campuses have been predominantly peaceful.
According to a statement issued by Hamas on Wednesday, they expressed their support for the protests at Columbia that started on April 17. In a separate post on X, Johnson emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not be allocated to institutions that permit such chaos.
According to Hamas spokesperson Izzat Al-Risheq, President Joe Biden is being held responsible for the violation of individual rights and freedom of expression. Al-Risheq accuses the president of arresting university students and faculty members who have spoken out against the alleged genocide occurring in the Gaza Strip, which he attributes to the actions of what he refers to as “neo-Nazi Zionists.”
In a statement, Al-Risheq emphasized the significance of empowering today’s students as they are the future leaders. He pointed out that neglecting their rights and suppressing their voices could result in a costly political consequence for the Biden administration in the long run.
White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates responded to Hamas’ statement by stating that “Hamas committed the most devastating massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, which greatly diminishes their credibility on this matter.”
According to Bates, the fact that Hamas is expressing disapproval, even after committing acts of “unadulterated evil” and vowing to repeat them, is a clear indication of President Biden’s unwavering moral stance. Bates emphasized that President Biden has consistently opposed Antisemitism throughout his entire life, and he will continue to do so without relent.
On Thursday, Johnson responded to the events at Columbia University, where he had recently visited and met with Jewish students. Alongside his New York House Republican colleagues, he called for the resignation of the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, if she was unable to restore order amidst the ongoing protests. Despite the constant interruptions from protesters, Johnson discussed the potential necessity of deploying the National Guard to address the situation.
During an interview with Linsey Davis of ABC News on Wednesday, Johnson referred to the statement and highlighted how Hamas perceives the protesters in Columbia as the future leaders of America.
Johnson expressed his hope that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. He firmly stated, “Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
According to Johnson, if universities are unable to effectively manage and prevent violence during protests, they should have their federal funding withdrawn.
During a conversation with Davis, Johnson emphasized the need for school administrators to take control of the situation. He made it clear that if they fail to do so, the Congress will not hesitate to withdraw funding from these universities. Johnson firmly asserted that it is the Congress’ responsibility to exercise the power of the purse and hold these administrators accountable for their actions.
According to Johnson, violence on campus was mentioned. However, the New York Police Department has stated that there are no credible threats to any specific group or individual as a result of the protests at Columbia University. The department clarified that they have not received any reports of physical harm towards any students.
Last week, over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were taken into custody at Columbia University while demanding the divestment of institutional funds from Israeli military activities. In addition, certain individuals engaging in Columbia’s ongoing encampment-style protests were temporarily suspended and expelled from the campus.
Following her testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding antisemitism on college campuses, Shafik’s efforts to combat antisemitism at Columbia have gained momentum. This comes in the wake of a terror attack on October 7, which ignited Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
In a recent post on X, New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik voiced her demand for Shafik’s resignation. She criticized Columbia University, stating that they had neglected to uphold their own campus regulations, resulting in a lack of protection for Jewish students.
Instances of violence and offensive or antisemitic rhetoric during the protests have occurred, but according to school administrators, New York police, and the protesters themselves, these incidents are largely attributed to individuals not associated with the schools.
Earlier this week, Shafik stated that there are individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia University but have come to campus to pursue their own agendas. These individuals have exploited and amplified tensions on campus.
According to Columbia spokesman Ben Chang, the presence of the student encampment on campus has raised significant safety concerns. He emphasized that Columbia University takes a strong stance against harassment and discriminatory behavior, and will thoroughly investigate any potential violations of community rules by the student protestors.
In light of safety concerns raised by students amidst on-campus tension, several universities have chosen to address the issue by offering remote or hybrid learning alternatives.