In a tense and heated debate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a lecturer named Rachel Weber from the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences sparked controversy by avoiding a direct answer when asked if she would condemn terrorism. The incident was caught on video by Fox News during a protest on campus earlier this month.

During the protest, a pro-Israel student confronted Weber, who had been debating with students, asking her, "You're a professor. Will you condemn terrorism? It's a yes or no question." In response, Weber stated, "It's not a yes or no question," leaving the pro-Israel student puzzled.

The incident took place amidst a wave of anti-Israel protests on campuses across the country following Hamas's October 7 terrorist attack on civilians and Israel's subsequent retaliatory air strikes on Gaza. The Hamas attack, which involved beheadings, kidnappings, and murders, led to the deaths of approximately 1,400 Israelis. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, around 4,385 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes.

A spokesperson for UMass Amherst confirmed that Weber is indeed a lecturer at the publicly funded university. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of students, staff, and faculty to express their personal opinions, stating that the university stands by the principles of the First Amendment and academic freedom.

Despite numerous attempts, Weber has not provided a comment on the incident.

The tense debate continued as another anti-Israel demonstrator expressed concern about putting Weber in a difficult position where her words might be manipulated. The pro-Israel student questioned this claim, to which the anti-Israel demonstrator responded aggressively, using explicit language.

Another student asked Weber if she considered the Hamas attack as an act of terrorism, to which she laughed before giving a vague response. She referred to the concept of starting the clock at different points to alter the perception of reality, indicating a reluctance to directly address the situation.

In an exchange with the pro-Israel student, Weber accused him of not condemning the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) towards Palestinians. The student rebutted by stating that the IDF does not target civilians.

Weber, who is Jewish herself, shared that she often finds it necessary to affirm that she does not support Israel. She also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that he engaged in questionable weapons deals with governments accused of antisemitism and human rights abuses.

The pro-Israel student countered by highlighting Israel's relatively friendly environment for the LGBTQ+ community. Weber then claimed that Israel bombs queer Palestinians, who face legal repercussions for engaging in same-sex activities in Gaza.

In another part of the debate, a different student questioned Weber on how she envisions a peaceful resolution and an end to the Israeli occupation. Weber responded by stating it would not happen overnight and that it is a complex issue.

The incident has sparked debates about academic freedom, personal opinions, and the responsibility of educators to condemn acts of terrorism unequivocally.

It is essential to note that the information in this article is based solely on the details provided by the Fox News report and statements made during the recorded debate at UMass Amherst.