Friday, August 14, 2026 - A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff has sued Columbia University, accusing the institution of discriminating against its Palestinian community since late 2023.
The lawsuit, filed in New York state court, alleges that the university failed to protect Palestinian students and employees from harassment while subjecting them to what plaintiffs describe as unfair and biased disciplinary proceedings.
The plaintiffs allege that Columbia went beyond failing to intervene, accusing university officials of contributing to a hostile environment through disciplinary actions and surveillance of pro-Palestinian activists.
The complaint also cites alleged incidents involving harassment and physical confrontations involving Palestinian and pro-Palestinian students. Columbia declined to comment on the pending litigation.
The case adds another major legal battle to Columbia’s already intense debate over campus discrimination, free speech and responses to protests linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The lawsuit now puts the university’s policies and conduct toward Palestinian students and staff under renewed legal scrutiny, with the plaintiffs seeking court intervention and damages.
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