Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Recently Arrested By ICE For Supporting Hamas, In May 2024 Al-Arabiya Interview: Republicans Are Using The Pro-Palestine Protests To Punish Universities For Being Pro-Democrat; I Never Said Things Got Out Of Control In Our Protests; We Had Nothing To Do With Such Cases

Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested by U.S. immigration services on March 8, 2025, was interviewed by Al-Arabiya Network (Saudi Arabia) on May 3, 2024, about his activism at Columbia University. When asked if activism on campus had crossed into anarchy and destruction, Khalil replied that all his activism had been "very peaceful." He attributed Republican politicians' accusations against Columbia University to partisan reasons, as the university is seen as pro-Democrat.

Khalil denied any involvement in antisemitic incidents, claiming that those responsible for such acts were not part of his movement. Khalil, a former employee of UNRWA, was arrested for activities aligned with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. As a student organizer, Khalil had represented activists who took over areas of Columbia University, including an incident where a janitor was taken hostage, during negotiations with university authorities.

Interviewer: "Do you think that this student movement crossed the line from real activism to anarchy and destruction, or do you think that this is exaggerated?"

Mahmoud Khalil: "Obviously, this is exaggerated. Anything I, or anyone, is doing in defense of Palestine is portrayed as antisemitism or anarchy by the politicians. However, as I said before, our action has been very peaceful, and did not include antisemitic slogans. Our one and only goal was..."

Interviewer: "You've said there were some violations, and that things got out of control. How do you view this?"

Khalil: "I've said no such thing."

Interviewer: "You've just said that there were some 'isolated cases.'"

Khalil: "But we had nothing to do with these cases. We've been clear about this, and published several statements, making it clear that those people were not part of our movement.

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"These Republicans are not only against Palestine, but also against Democratic policies. Columbia University is considered to be a pro-Democratic university, and therefore the House of Representatives, where there is a Republican majority at the moment, is using the Palestine cause to punish these universities and [academic] institutions."