President Shafik,

A true friend and ally to Jewish and Israeli students is a friend during times of peace and during times of war. Israel is at war, and the Jewish community is calling on your friendship.

At 6:30 AM on Saturday, October 7th, an Iran-sponsored Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, launched an unprovoked invasion of southern Israel with one mission: to slaughter Israeli civilians. To murder Jews. 

On the most joyous day of the Hebrew Calendar where Israelis and Jews around the world celebrate Simchat Torah, Columbia students see our brothers and sisters in Israel gunned down indiscriminately. Israeli civilians and soldiers alike have been maimed and murdered, their dead bodies taken hostage and paraded through the streets of Gaza. Entire families have been burned alive in their homes, children have been slaughtered in front of their parents, elderly have been taken hostage, and young girls have been raped, their mutilated bodies celebrated and spit on. More than 4,000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza. Over 800 Israelis have been murdered, and over 3,000 have been injured (and counting). 

Students at Columbia University stand unapologetically with the only Jewish state in the world. Like every other nation, Israel must exercise her right to defend herself. And, unlike Hamas, Israel will do so with practices that precisely target military assets in Gaza, not innocent civilians.

As Columbia students, we have made lifelong friends in study abroad programs, with students in the Dual BA program with Tel Aviv University, and with many of our peers who are not only from Israel, but have bravely served in their defense forces. They are now in danger. Columbia students have been drafted from the reserves, with several even flying back to Israel to defend their home. Yet Israel is not only their home; as Jews, Israel is our home. The Columbia community is inextricably connected to Israel and the Israeli people. And we need you to elevate our voices. 

We reached out over the weekend, imploring you to support our community during this unimaginable time. There was no response. Our hearts are bleeding, President Shafik. Again, we urge you to make a clear and unequivocal statement in support of our ally Israel and her right to defend herself.