Protests erupt at Yale over visit by controversial Israeli minister
Activist and organizer Abdullah Akl speaks as New York University students set up a "Liberated Zone" tent encampment in Gould Plaza at NYU Stern School of Business on April 22, 2024 in New York City. NYU students joined the growing number of students in colleges throughout the country to set up tent encampments on school grounds calling on their schools to divest from Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. Nearly 50 people were arrested at Yale on Monday morning after the arrest last week of more than 100 protesters at Columbia University.
Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Yale University became the center of protest as pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with security and voiced outrage over the visit of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The far-right minister’s appearance at a private event near campus triggered chants, confrontations, and increased scrutiny of Yale’s handling of political expression and student activism.
Ben Gvir, a polarizing figure known for inflammatory rhetoric and past convictions related to inciting racism, spoke at Shabtai, an exclusive Jewish society not formally affiliated with Yale. As he exited the venue, he was met by dozens of protesters chanting “Free Palestine” and “Yale, your hands are red,” in reference to the university’s perceived complicity in Israeli military actions.
Videos from the scene show water bottles being thrown toward Ben Gvir, prompting a brief moment of chaos. The minister, uninjured and grinning, responded with a V-sign hand gesture, which his office later described as a symbol of “victory” over attempts to silence him.
According to a statement released by his office, the minister “refused to be intimidated” and accused demonstrators of trying to suppress free speech. While no injuries were reported, at least one person was seen being detained by police, and the New Haven Police Department has not yet confirmed the number of arrests.
This week’s protests mark a resurgence of campus activism at Yale, where student-led calls for divestment from Israeli-linked firms and criticism of the university’s neutrality have intensified. Demonstrations began Tuesday night when an unregistered group of roughly 200 people set up tents in Beinecke Plaza. Yale officials issued warnings and eventually disbanded the group by 11 PM, citing violations of campus policy.
Yale later revoked the group’s student organization status and announced an investigation into “disturbing antisemitic conduct” during the gathering. Some participants, previously warned for policy violations, now face disciplinary action. The university stressed its commitment to maintaining safety and free expression, but also emphasized that any hateful conduct would be dealt with under its code of conduct.
The tension surrounding Ben Gvir’s visit highlights the growing divide between universities and politically active students, especially as the war in Gaza continues to drive debate and dissent on U. campuses. The ongoing conflict began in October 2023 after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people in Israel. In response, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza have killed tens of thousands, including a large number of civilians, international groups say.