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Violent clashes broke out on the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles on Wednesday when counter-demonstrators attacked a pro-Palestinian protest encampment, hours after New York City police cleared pro-Palestinian protesters out of an academic building that had been taken over at Columbia University. Watch in for more details!

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Israel to send delegation to Cairo | Columbia suspends protesters

The US State Department has identified five Israeli military units as being responsible for serious human rights violations in specific incidents but stated that these units will still receive US military support.&nbsp;

Notably, all the incidents occurred outside of Gaza before the current war. Israel took corrective measures in four units, giving additional information on the fifth, according to the department.

This implies that all the units are still eligible for US military assistance. US is Israel's main military backer, supplying it with $3.8bn (£3bn) worth of weapons and defence systems per year.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that five security forces units committed gross violations of human rights.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/columbia-university-suspends-student-protesters-for-defiance-of-ultimatum-to-disperse-716450">Columbia University suspends student protesters for defiance of deadline</a>

"Four of the Israeli units have effectively remediated these violations, which is what we expect partners to do," he said and added, “For a remaining unit, we are in consultations and engagements with the government of Israel; they have submitted additional information as it pertains to that unit."

The department disproves allegations that it caved to political pressure by continuing to provide military assistance to the unit, despite not being able to confirm whether any accountability measures had been taken in the case.

"We are engaging with them in a process, and we will make an ultimate decision when it comes to that unit when that process is complete," said Patel.

All the incidents are believed to have taken place in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in recent years. 
It is worth mentioning that under America's ‘Leahy Law’, sponsored in 1997 by then-Senator Patrick Leahy, a finding that a foreign military unit has committed serious human rights violations can result in the suspension of its eligibility for US military assistance.

The US government says it considers torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and rape as such types of violations when implementing the Leahy law.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-gets-40-day-ceasefire-amid-renewed-airstrikes-on-rafah-by-israel-716335">Hamas gets 40-day ceasefire offer amid airstrikes on Rafah by Israel</a>

Even when there is such a finding, there is an exception to cutting military assistance if the state department is satisfied the cases have been dealt with and justice pursued by the government involved.

It says Israel did do this - so-called remediation - in four of the five units. However, the department declined to give any details of the incidents.

The United States was reportedly about to announce that it would halt military aid to a fifth Israeli military unit, but it has since stated that new information from Israel will delay a final decision.

The unit in question is widely believed to be the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a special unit established in 1999 for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to serve.

Israel investigated this battalion in connection with the death of Omar Assad, an 80-year-old Palestinian-American who died after being bound and gagged by soldiers during a search in a West Bank village in 2022.

At the time, the US called for a thorough criminal investigation and full accountability.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-five-israeli-units-committed-abuse-before-hamas-attack-716423">US says five Israeli units committed abuse before Hamas attack</a>

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later said they regretted Mr Assad's death, and a commander would be "reprimanded" and two soldiers barred from senior positions for two years - but would not be prosecuted.

When asked about reports an IDF unit could be the first ever to face the US government designation under the Leahy Law, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on 19 April, "I made determinations. You can expect to see them in the days ahead."

(With inputs from agencies)

The US State Department has identified five Israeli military units as being responsible for serious human rights violations in specific incidents but stated that these units will still receive US military support.

The US State Department has identified five Israeli military units as being responsible for serious human rights violations in specific incidents but stated that these units will still receive US military support. Notably, all the incidents occurred outside of Gaza before the current war. Israel took corrective measures in four units, giving additional information on the fifth, according to the department. This implies that all the units are still eligible for US military assistance. US is Israel's main military backer, supplying it with $3.8bn (£3bn) worth of weapons and defence systems per year. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that five security forces units committed gross violations of human rights. Also read: Columbia University suspends student protesters for defiance of deadline "Four of the Israeli units have effectively remediated these violations, which is what we expect partners to do," he said and added, “For a remaining unit, we are in consultations and engagements with the government of Israel; they have submitted additional information as it pertains to that unit." The department disproves allegations that it caved to political pressure by continuing to provide military assistance to the unit, despite not being able to confirm whether any accountability measures had been taken in the case. "We are engaging with them in a process, and we will make an ultimate decision when it comes to that unit when that process is complete," said Patel. All the incidents are believed to have taken place in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in recent years. It is worth mentioning that under America's ‘Leahy Law’, sponsored in 1997 by then-Senator Patrick Leahy, a finding that a foreign military unit has committed serious human rights violations can result in the suspension of its eligibility for US military assistance. The US government says it considers torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and rape as such types of violations when implementing the Leahy law. Also read: Hamas gets 40-day ceasefire offer amid airstrikes on Rafah by Israel Even when there is such a finding, there is an exception to cutting military assistance if the state department is satisfied the cases have been dealt with and justice pursued by the government involved. It says Israel did do this - so-called remediation - in four of the five units. However, the department declined to give any details of the incidents. The United States was reportedly about to announce that it would halt military aid to a fifth Israeli military unit, but it has since stated that new information from Israel will delay a final decision. The unit in question is widely believed to be the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a special unit established in 1999 for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to serve. Israel investigated this battalion in connection with the death of Omar Assad, an 80-year-old Palestinian-American who died after being bound and gagged by soldiers during a search in a West Bank village in 2022. At the time, the US called for a thorough criminal investigation and full accountability. Also read: US says five Israeli units committed abuse before Hamas attack The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later said they regretted Mr Assad's death, and a commander would be "reprimanded" and two soldiers barred from senior positions for two years - but would not be prosecuted. When asked about reports an IDF unit could be the first ever to face the US government designation under the Leahy Law, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on 19 April, "I made determinations. You can expect to see them in the days ahead." (With inputs from agencies)

US claims Israeli military units violated human rights

Columbia University’s president, on Monday (Apr 29) said that the talks with the pro-Palestinian protesters on the campus have failed and urged them to voluntarily disperse or face suspension. This comes a day after skirmishes broke out at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened at Columbia University?</h2>

Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik, on Monday, said that the talks between student organisers and academic leaders have failed over the encampments set up by the pro-Palestinian protesters.&nbsp;

In a statement, Shafik said that the university would not divest assets that support the Israeli military – a key demand by the protesters – but offered to invest in health and education in Gaza as well as make Columbia’s direct investment holdings more transparent, reported Reuters.

Meanwhile, students at Columbia shared a copy of the warning they received from the university. The statement said those who did not vacate the encampment by 2:00 pm (local time) and sign a form acknowledging their participation would face suspension.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-gets-40-day-ceasefire-amid-renewed-airstrikes-on-rafah-by-israel-716335">Hamas gets 40-day ceasefire offer amid airstrikes on Rafah by Israel</a>

The student would also be considered ineligible to complete the semester, reported Reuters citing the letter. Additionally, even those who sign the form and leave the area would have to reportedly face “disciplinary probation” until June 2025 or their graduation, whichever comes first.&nbsp;

The university president faced outrage, on April 18, as New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment and arrested more than 100 demonstrators from the Ivy League campus.&nbsp;

Since then, the number of people arrested for participating in these protests has surpassed 900, reported the Associated Press.&nbsp;

University campuses across the United States are witnessing similar protests, while college officials have urged pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments. This comes as the universities wrap up for the semester and prepare for graduation ceremonies.&nbsp;

However, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, students and other protesters have called on universities to cut financial ties with Israel.&nbsp;

<h2>Clashes at UCLA</h2>

On Sunday (Apr 28) morning, thousands of protesters, including university students and others gathered on the UCLA campus.&nbsp;

UCLA’s student-led newspaper, Daily Bruin reported that the crowd consisted of four protests, organised by various groups after the pro-Palestinian encampment started on the campus, last week.&nbsp;

The crowd included members of the Israeli American Council which “led the main counter-protest…toward the encampment,” according to the Daily Bruin.&nbsp;

Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice which sought to support students’ right to protest and the Palestinian Youth Movement were also a part of the crowd.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/columbia-faculty-senate-passes-resolution-over-administrative-handling-of-anti-israel-protests-715673">Columbia faculty senate passes resolution over administrative handling of anti-Israel protests</a>

Images and videos of the skirmishes posted on social media show pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli counter-protesters led by the council shouting and shoving at each other.&nbsp;

According to the Daily Bruin, counter-protesters waving Israeli and American flags attempted to breach the barriers created by students inside the encampment.&nbsp;

“This morning, a group of demonstrators breached a barrier that the university had established separating two groups of protestors on our campus, resulting in physical altercations,” said Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications in a statement to the student-led paper.&nbsp;

It added, “UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out.”

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Columbia University’s president, on Monday (Apr 29) said that the talks with the pro-Palestinian protesters on the campus have failed and urged them to voluntarily disperse or face suspension.

Columbia University’s president, on Monday (Apr 29) said that the talks with the pro-Palestinian protesters on the campus have failed and urged them to voluntarily disperse or face suspension. This comes a day after skirmishes broke out at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters. What happened at Columbia University? Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik, on Monday, said that the talks between student organisers and academic leaders have failed over the encampments set up by the pro-Palestinian protesters. In a statement, Shafik said that the university would not divest assets that support the Israeli military – a key demand by the protesters – but offered to invest in health and education in Gaza as well as make Columbia’s direct investment holdings more transparent, reported Reuters. Meanwhile, students at Columbia shared a copy of the warning they received from the university. The statement said those who did not vacate the encampment by 2:00 pm (local time) and sign a form acknowledging their participation would face suspension. Also Read | Hamas gets 40-day ceasefire offer amid airstrikes on Rafah by Israel The student would also be considered ineligible to complete the semester, reported Reuters citing the letter. Additionally, even those who sign the form and leave the area would have to reportedly face “disciplinary probation” until June 2025 or their graduation, whichever comes first. The university president faced outrage, on April 18, as New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment and arrested more than 100 demonstrators from the Ivy League campus. Since then, the number of people arrested for participating in these protests has surpassed 900, reported the Associated Press. University campuses across the United States are witnessing similar protests, while college officials have urged pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments. This comes as the universities wrap up for the semester and prepare for graduation ceremonies. However, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, students and other protesters have called on universities to cut financial ties with Israel. Clashes at UCLA On Sunday (Apr 28) morning, thousands of protesters, including university students and others gathered on the UCLA campus. UCLA’s student-led newspaper, Daily Bruin reported that the crowd consisted of four protests, organised by various groups after the pro-Palestinian encampment started on the campus, last week. The crowd included members of the Israeli American Council which “led the main counter-protest…toward the encampment,” according to the Daily Bruin. Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice which sought to support students’ right to protest and the Palestinian Youth Movement were also a part of the crowd. Also Read | Columbia faculty senate passes resolution over administrative handling of anti-Israel protests Images and videos of the skirmishes posted on social media show pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli counter-protesters led by the council shouting and shoving at each other. According to the Daily Bruin, counter-protesters waving Israeli and American flags attempted to breach the barriers created by students inside the encampment. “This morning, a group of demonstrators breached a barrier that the university had established separating two groups of protestors on our campus, resulting in physical altercations,” said Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications in a statement to the student-led paper. It added, “UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out.” (With inputs from agencies)

US: Columbia threatens to suspend pro-Palestinian protesters; rival groups clash on UCLA campus

Protesters on Columbia University’s campus took control of an academic building Tuesday, as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to spread at college campuses around the nation against the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

US: Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University take over campus building

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