Massive protests at Columbia with pro-Hamas chants day of House antisemitism hearing

The day that Columbia University administrators testified before a House committee probing the school's response to antisemitism, hundreds of students erupted in protest on campus, which included chants supporting Hamas' military wing and calling for the fall of Israel. 

"Al-Qassam, you make us proud! Kill another soldier now," protesters chanted in the street next to Columbia University on Wednesday, video shows. Al-Qassam Brigades are Hamas' military wing, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, the European Union, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Canada and other nations.

On Columbia's quad, video shows demonstrators chanting in Arabic "Palestine is Arab!" and "Raise the banner of the revolution!" Both phrases refer to the removal of Jews from Israel, where they have had a continuous presence for thousands of years. 

On a subway, demonstrators who reportedly attended the Columbia protest can be seen chanting, "Free our prisoners, free them all! Israel will fall!" The prisoners are Palestinians who have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism or related crimes, as well as those who have been convicted of such crimes.

Many students stayed in tents overnight in the quad and were still present as of Thursday morning.

The protest began Wednesday, the same day that Columbia University President Nemat Shafik and other administrators testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee about antisemitism on campus.  

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