A senior official from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has declared that students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations could face years in prison. Leo Terrell, head of the DOJ’s task force on antisemitism, stated that those protesting against Israel’s genocide in Gaza would face severe punishment. “We will put these people in prison—not for 24 hours, but for years,” he told Israel’s Channel 12, also pledging to financially target universities where such protests have taken place.

This announcement comes as students at Columbia University intensify their demonstrations following the expulsion of two activists for their pro-Palestinian stance. Across the US, universities have become a battleground for free speech, with students facing increasing repression for speaking out against Israel’s crimes in Gaza. The US government’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices aligns with a broader trend of silencing criticism of Israeli policies under the guise of combating antisemitism.

Bernard Cornut, a political analyst and Middle East expert, condemned Terrell’s remarks as a direct attack on freedom of expression and academic freedom. He stressed that punishing students for opposing war crimes reflects a dangerous shift in US policy, prioritising Israel’s protection over democratic values. “Instead of imprisoning students, the US should be holding Israel accountable for its war crimes,” he stated, highlighting the hypocrisy of a government that claims to champion human rights while suppressing dissent.

The criminalisation of pro-Palestinian activism mirrors historical efforts to silence civil rights movements, Cornut warned. Universities have long been spaces of political debate, and suppressing student activism on Palestine only reinforces the growing complicity of Western governments in Israel’s actions. As the situation in Gaza worsens, attempts to intimidate activists will not erase the global demand for justice, but rather expose the lengths to which governments are willing to go to shield Israel from accountability.