Columbia Protester Khalil Allegedly Showed Deep Hatred for Israel Says Ex-Classmate

A former classmate of detained Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil has revealed he harbored intense hostility toward Israel creating a hostile classroom environment that went unaddressed by the Ivy League school. The Jewish graduate student who shared a fall course with Khalil at the School of International and Public Affairs said she dropped the class due to his actions. Her account sheds new light on the anti-Israel activist now facing deportation after leading campus protests.

The ex-classmate a female student said Khalil’s venom toward Israel made her feel unsafe prompting her to file complaints with Columbia. She described him openly disparaging the Jewish state in discussions with little pushback from professors or peers. University officials allegedly ignored her concerns fueling her decision to abandon the course entirely.

Khalil’s arrest by ICE last week stems from his role in disruptive anti-Israel protests at Columbia in 2024. Authorities claim he supported Hamas a designated terror group though no formal charges have been filed against him. His green card was revoked thrusting him into a legal battle as supporters rally for his release.

The Jewish alum’s testimony paints Khalil as more than a passionate advocate but a figure whose rhetoric crossed into intimidation. She recalled his fixation on Israel’s actions in Gaza often framing them as genocide without room for debate. This aligns with broader accusations of antisemitism leveled at Columbia’s protest movement.

Columbia has faced scrutiny for tolerating anti-Israel fervor with Trump recently slashing $400 million in federal funds over the issue. The university expelled several students linked to the protests but critics say it’s too little too late. Khalil’s case now tests how far free speech stretches before it breaches safety or law.

Supporters argue Khalil’s detention is a free speech violation targeting his activism not his behavior. Yet the ex-classmate’s account suggests a pattern of conduct that unsettled peers long before his arrest. Jewish students have reported rising unease on campus with some blaming lax oversight for emboldening radicals.

ICE moved Khalil to a Louisiana detention center far from his New York base a move his lawyers call punitive. His pregnant wife a U.S. citizen decried the arrest as an assault on their family. The clash pits immigration enforcement against claims of political persecution with courts set to decide his fate.

This saga underscores tensions at elite campuses where ideological battles often spill into personal ones. Whether Khalil’s alleged hatred shaped his activism or reflects wider trends at Columbia remains debated. For now his classmate’s story adds a chilling layer to a case already roiling the nation.