Columbia University banned Khymani James, a 20-year-old pro-Palestinian student protest organizer, from its campus on Friday after it was reported he previously made violent remarks toward Zionists.

“I want to make clear that calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy,” the university spokesperson said.

The University of Southern California valedictorian who was barred from delivering a commencement speech while accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric has doubled down on her views.

“I stand by exactly what I stand by,” Asna Tabassum told KABC-TV Wednesday of the views that led to her ban. “It is the very values and the very lessons USC taught me that I stand by.”

The University of Southern California canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians, citing security concerns, a rare decision that was praised by several pro-Israel groups and lambasted by free speech advocates and the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organization.

What was supposed to be a time of celebration for Asna Tabassum – the University of Southern California’s 2024 valedictorian – has turned to disappointment after the university denied her the chance to give a speech at commencement over security concerns.

Facebook and Instragram's parent company, Meta, is contemplating stricter rules around discussing Israeli nationalism on its platforms, a major policy change that could stifle criticism and free expression about the war in Gaza and beyond, five civil society sources who were briefed on the potential change told The Intercept.

Which is sexiest: Zionism or a #freepalestine?

It might seem like an odd question, and I’m not here to compare Gigi Hadid to Gal Gadot. But online and in protests, sentiments like “pretty girls support Palestine” or “Zionism is sexy” are proliferating in the wake of the war.

But what does hotness have to do with — checks notes — war in the Middle East, shipping blockades, Palestinian liberation and Israeli military tactics?

The massacre by Hamas on October 7 and subsequent war in Gaza has created the conditions for something surprising: a resurrection of the liberal Zionist political tradition.