Cornell University in New York Informs FBI of Antisemitic Threats Against Students

The president of Cornell University in New York, in a statement on Tuesday, reported an increase in "violent threats against Jewish students at the university" and announced that security officials have been informed. Martha Pollack stated in the statement that "violent threats against Jewish students at this university are absolutely intolerable, and we will strive to ensure that the individual or individuals who sent them are prosecuted under the law." Voice of America, citing the New York Times, reported that these messages, which emerged following Israel's declaration of war against Gaza, include "threats of shooting" at Jewish students as well as "encouragement to shoot" at them. According to the same report, the addresses of several Jewish students' residences have also been published on internet websites. In this context, Christopher Wray, the FBI director, said on Tuesday during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing that since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza about three weeks ago, several foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West, significantly increasing the threat from "violent American extremists." This senior U.S. security official stated that "the actions of Hamas and its allies will inspire extremists in a way we have not seen since ISIS declared its so-called caliphate several years ago." During the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, also stated that "hatred towards Jewish students" in the United States has increased following the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, contributing to a rise in "antisemitism." The White House has also announced that officials in the Biden administration, while warning about reports of antisemitism in the country's universities, met with Jewish leaders in America on Monday. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House spokesperson, said in a press conference this week: "There is no place for hate in America, and we condemn any threats or acts of antisemitism in the strongest terms." Tensions between pro-Israel and Palestinian groups at some universities in the U.S., including several in New York, have prompted university officials to intensify security measures. Hamas militants, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, killed at least 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians, in several terrorist attacks on Israeli soil on October 7. This militant group also took over 200 hostages during these attacks. In response to these terrorist attacks, the Israeli government declared war against Hamas and Hamas-supporting militant groups. In the past three weeks, clashes between the Israeli army and Palestinian militant groups have continued, and ground attacks by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip began last Friday and have intensified in recent days. An angry crowd with anti-Jewish slogans in Dagestan, Russia attacked an airplane carrying Israeli citizens. The hashtag "Iranians Stand with Israel" has gone viral; users claim "the octopus is in Tehran." The Houthis claim to have fired missiles and drones at Israel; Israel: we have destroyed two aerial threats. Attacks on 300 targets in Gaza; Hamas tunnels are the main target of the Israeli army. British intelligence officials: The Islamic Republic is a serious threat to British citizens. The killing of "Shani Luke," a German-Israeli citizen, has been confirmed. Israel: Several armed Hamas members were killed in ground operations.