In a federal court hearing on Friday, pro-Palestinian groups went head-to-head with the DeSantis administration over Florida's efforts to disband student organizations that are accused of having ties to Hamas terrorists. This legal battle raises concerns about free speech issues and mirrors similar conflicts happening on college campuses across the country during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

During the three-hour hearing in Tallahassee, attorneys representing two Students for Justice in Palestine organizations argued that the court should prevent Florida and school officials from imposing punishments based on an October state university system memo that called for a "crack down" on campus events amid the Israel-Hamas war. On the other hand, lawyers representing the state contended that the students' lawsuits should be dismissed since no action has been taken against them by the University of Florida and the University of South Florida.

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker did not indicate when he would rule on the case but expressed frustration about individuals in power making dangerous statements regarding the issue. This frustration stemmed from Governor Ron DeSantis frequently claiming victory in disbanding the student groups, while his administration maintains that it has not taken any action.

This high-profile case, which began while DeSantis was on his presidential campaign trail, is being closely watched. Both lawsuits argue that the state's deactivation order, outlined in a memo from university system chancellor Ray Rodrigues, violates free speech and viewpoint discrimination laws. The student groups are seeking a preliminary injunction to nullify the order and prevent the DeSantis administration from dismantling the Students for Justice in Palestine organizations.

During the hearing, Judge Walker questioned both sides to determine who holds the authority to take action based on the order from Chancellor Rodrigues. The lawsuit also targets Governor DeSantis, with his lawyer arguing that he should be removed as a defendant due to his lack of enforcement authority.

Attorneys representing the state argued that the memo from Rodrigues, which accuses the student groups of supporting a designated foreign terrorist organization, is not enforceable and is akin to an open letter. Despite Governor DeSantis publicly celebrating actions against the pro-Palestinian students, the order has not resulted in any changes on campuses in the state.

While the student organizations have not technically been removed, their attorneys argued that the order casts a cloud of uncertainty over them. They claim that organizing and hosting events has become more challenging, and potential new members fear joining due to the possibility of the state or university eventually taking action. The Students for Justice in Palestine groups argue that if not for the lawsuit, they would have already been deactivated.

Brian Hauss, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, emphasized that the lack of rescinding the deactivation order by Chancellor Rodrigues is evidence of the reasonable fears experienced by the students.

The controversy surrounding the student groups initially arose from a "toolkit" published by the national Students for Justice in Palestine organization, which faced scrutiny in Florida and other states for its description of the conflict as "the resistance" and the claim that "Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement." However, the UF and USF students maintain that they are fully autonomous and have no financial relationship with the national group, focusing instead on raising awareness about the alleged abuses by the Israeli government against Palestinians.

It remains to be seen how Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker will rule in this case, which highlights the clash between free speech rights and concerns over potential ties to terrorism in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.