Outcry as Zionist Intimidation Targets Pro-Palestine Activist Mahmoud Khalil

In an unprecedented act of Zionist intimidation against the pro-Palestine movement, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Mahmoud Khalil on the evening of Saturday, March 8, 2025, at his university housing. The arrest occurred shortly after he and his pregnant wife, an American citizen, returned from an iftar dinner. Khalil, a green card holder, is now facing deportation.

Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, earned his master’s degree in December. He emerged as a prominent figure in the protests against Israel’s war in Gaza on the Columbia University campus and was among the brave students who chose to stand on the right side of history.

Students and activists around the world expressed outrage, condemning the one-sided move as a result of pressure from Zionist groups.

At the same time, tens of thousands of people took to the streets worldwide to demonstrate against Zionist actions in Gaza and Palestine, as well as the intimidation taking place within the United States. One such protest occurred in New York City at Federal Plaza, where thousands gathered to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil. Protesters also condemned the targeting of courageous students standing up for Palestine, as they resist the ongoing Zionist occupation and genocide.

Anti-Zionist Jews attended the rally in solidarity, pleading with the United States government to listen to the voices of Jews who remain true to the Torah and their religion. They emphasized that those standing up for justice are not anti-Semitic but are instead opposing injustice. Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss addressed the crowd, stating, “We need to release Mahmoud Khalil and save Palestine and Gaza.”

The protest ended at Union Square after speeches from various organizations, with a commitment to continue standing up for Palestine and justice.