Shocking allegations: Columbia Students had prior knowledge of October 7 attack, Hamas ties exposed

A lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York accuses several U.S.-based activist groups of having prior knowledge of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel and allegedly supporting Gaza's terrorist organizations. The plaintiffs, who are the families of victims from the attack, seek damages from a number of individuals and groups, including law student Nerdeen Kiswani, Khalil Mohammed, and organizations such as Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Columbia-Barnard Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Within Our Lifetime (WOL), and Columbia University's Apartheid Divest (CUAD).

The lawsuit claims that the Columbia SJP chapter reactivated its dormant Instagram account minutes before the October 7 attack, posting an announcement for a meeting and encouraging supporters to "stay tuned." The suit also alleges that 83 chapters of SJP, including Columbia's, issued statements supporting Hamas on the day of the attack, implying prior coordination with the terrorist group. The plaintiffs further argue that Hamas captors referred to these groups as their operatives, with one plaintiff, Shlomi Ziv, a former hostage, revealing that his captors boasted of having operatives on American university campuses. Ziv, who was kidnapped while working security at the Nova Music Festival, had his cousin and friend murdered in the attack and was later rescued in an IDF raid.

According to the lawsuit, these groups acted as the "public relations wing" of Hamas, facilitating pro-Hamas mobilization efforts and promoting propaganda. The plaintiffs contend that the organizations' actions contributed to Hamas’s strategy, which included provoking civilian-endangering responses and fueling propaganda efforts. This lawsuit raises serious concerns about the involvement of activist groups on U.S. campuses and their alleged ties to foreign terrorist organizations, shedding light on the potential influence of these groups on the broader political landscape.