New York City, United States

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Columbia University, which has been the epicentre of pro-Palestinian protests that have started at various US colleges, started suspending students who were found involved in the demonstrations which have marred the campus after the deadline given to disperse was defied and unheeded.

The university's authorities had earlier announced that the protest encampment should be removed by 2:00 pm (1800 GMT) or else disciplinary action will be taken against the students.

Here's what the Columbia University said

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However, the deadline given by the university passed and students still continued to rally at the site.  

The university's Minouche Shafik had earlier announced that they would not bow to the protesters' demands to divest from Israel while giving the students the deadline to remove encampments.

Also Read: US pro-Palestine protest updates: Columbia University drops deadline to remove encampments

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“It is important for you to know that the university has already identified many students in the encampment,” read a letter written on the university notepaper with the header - “Notice to Encampment”. 

“If you do not leave by 2 pm, you will be suspended pending further investigation. If you voluntarily leave by 2 pm, identify yourself to university officials, and sign the provided form where you commit to abide by all university policies through June 30 2025, or the date of the conferral of your degree, whichever is earlier, you will be eligible to complete the semester in good standing," it read.

Protesting students call it 'repulsive scare tactics', university begins suspension

Reacting to the deadline given by the university, the students in a statement said, "These repulsive scare tactics mean nothing compared to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians."

"We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or... are moved by force," reacted another student.

After the students failed to abide by the deadline, Columbia Vice President Of Communications Ben Chang said the university had "begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus."

He added the students were earlier warned they would be "placed on suspension, ineligible to complete the semester or graduate, and will be restricted from all academic, residential, and recreational spaces."

Chang, expressing disappointment over the breakdown of discussions, said, "We were hopeful and were disappointed when the student protesters could not reach a consensus in the discussion." 

Watch: Pro-Palestine college campus protests grow strong in US

In a statement on Monday (April 29), Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said that the talks had broken down. "Many of our Jewish students, and other students as well, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks. Many have left campus, and that is a tragedy," Shafik said.

"Anti-Semitic language and actions are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent," she added.

Police clash with protesters at University of Texas

Meanwhile, the police clashed with protesters at the University of Texas at Austin and arrested some of them while dismantling an encampment.

Taking to social media, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, "No encampments will be allowed. Instead, arrests are being made."

Columbia University's New York campus became the centre of protests which marred multiple colleges in the United States as demonstrations were carried out against the Gaza war in which more than 34,000 Palestinians have died, hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the territory is on the brink of famine. 

(With inputs from agencies)