In a recent incident at Harvard University, a law student came to the defense of a fellow classmate who accosted an Israeli student during an anti-Israel protest. Aashna Avachat, a second-year Harvard Law student, took to social media to assert that her classmate, Ibrahim Bharmal, was acting in the interest of protecting "peaceful protestors" who were allegedly put at risk by the actions of the Israeli student. The incident took place during a "die-in" protest on October 18.

Avachat, in a series of posts, claimed that Bharmal was safeguarding anti-Israel demonstrators from a student who was filming their activities, thereby compromising their safety. She further accused the Israeli student of being "aggressive" and attempting to harass the protestors by taking invasive photos and getting in their faces. While Avachat acknowledged that the Israeli student did not physically contact the protestors, she contended that he came close to doing so.

The videos and photos circulated on social media showed Bharmal confronting and blocking the Israeli student, who was allegedly masked to hide his identity. However, Avachat later reposted images indicating that the Israeli student was actually not wearing a mask. Despite this discrepancy, Avachat insisted that Bharmal was acting as a safety marshal and standing between the Israeli student and the demonstrators to protect their safety.

Avachat's social media posts were an effort to defend Bharmal and another Harvard graduate student, Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, who was also filmed accosting the Israeli student. The incident has sparked controversy within the Harvard community, with some members coming to the defense of Bharmal and Tettey-Tamaklo. Harvard has not issued a direct response to the incident, other than a vague statement from Harvard Business School dean, Srikant Datar, acknowledging a "troubling confrontation."

Amidst the controversy, Avachat's background as an editorial assistant at MacMillan Publishers has come to light. She has expressed a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices in publishing and is affiliated with the Harvard Youth Advocacy and Policy Lab, where she focuses on racial justice issues in youth-facing legal and social systems.

This incident at Harvard University highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Israel and Palestine, as well as the complexities of free speech and peaceful protest on college campuses. The clash between students with differing views underscores the importance of respectful dialogue and understanding in fostering a harmonious academic environment.

As the discussion surrounding this incident continues, it remains to be seen how Harvard University will address the situation and promote meaningful conversations on campus.