Elderly Jewish Man Dies in US Israel-Palestine Counter-Protests

Private Eastern University Founded by Jews, First Ban on Activities of Student Group Supporting Hamas

Conflicts within American society are intensifying over the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

Physical clashes occurred between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters, resulting in the death of one participant. There was also an incident where a university banned a student group supporting Hamas.

On the 7th (local time), the US daily The New York Times (NYT) reported that Paul Kessler (69), a Jewish man injured at a rally held on the afternoon of the 5th in Thousand Oaks, California, died the next day on the 6th.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office in California responded to reports of clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestine at the rally and transported Kessler to the hospital. Kessler fell backward and hit his head on the ground. An autopsy revealed that he died from blunt force head trauma. The sheriff's office obtained witness statements indicating that Kessler had engaged in a physical altercation with at least one anti-war protester.

Investigators are examining Kessler's death with potential charges of homicide and hate crime in mind.

Brandeis University in Massachusetts banned the campus chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (National SJP) for supporting Hamas. This is the first such action among private universities in the United States.

A Brandeis University spokesperson told the political media outlet The Hill on the 6th that the SJP chapter was banned primarily due to its support for the armed group Hamas. He stated, "SJP demanded that its chapters participate in actions supporting Hamas, which seeks to eliminate the only Jewish state and its people worldwide," adding, "Such expression is not protected under the university's principles of freedom of expression."

Brandeis University was founded in 1948 by Jewish people.

On the 19th of last month (local time), citizens supporting Israel marched in New York, USA, holding signs that read "Oppose Anti-Semitism."
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

According to a letter from the university reported by the Jewish news site Jewish Insider, Brandeis informed SJP that "students wishing to express support for the rights of Palestinian civilians may form other student organizations following the procedures outlined in university policy."

The Florida Department of Education sent a letter to state universities on the 24th of last month ordering the disbandment of SJP chapters.

The authorities took issue with a publication distributed by the National SJP that described Hamas's attacks as a "resistance movement" and stated that overseas Palestinian students, including those in the national alliance, are part of this movement.

Rupi Kaur, a Canadian poet of Indian origin, announced on Instagram on the 8th that she would not attend the White House's Hindu festival "Diwali" event in protest of the US response to the current war.

With 4.5 million Instagram followers, she wrote, "Supporting the atrocities happening in Palestine is the exact opposite of what this festival means to most of us," and "I refuse the invitation from an institution that supports collective punishment of isolated civilians."

She continued, "The US government not only funds the bombing of Gaza but also continues to justify the massacre of Palestinians," urging people to "demand a humanitarian ceasefire, sign petitions, and attend rallies."

Kamala Harris, the US Vice President who is hosting the event, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, NBC News reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.