In a show of solidarity with Palestine, a group of masked protesters gathered on Tuesday outside one of the entrances to Columbia University in New York City. Chanting "Free Palestine!" and holding signs calling for the Ivy League institution to "divest from death," the demonstrators disrupted the first day of classes for students. These protests follow a series of similar incidents that occurred at the university last spring, which garnered global attention and resulted in over 100 arrests.

The recent surge in anti-Israel activity at Columbia comes just days after six hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were tragically killed by Hamas. The captives had been held hostage since their involvement in terror attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Almost 100 others remain in captivity.

Video footage captured one protester being arrested on Tuesday, while others engaged in scuffles and pushed barricades. Law enforcement subsequently took a second person into custody outside Barnard College, situated across the street from Columbia.

Initially, the demonstrations began peacefully, with participants walking in a circle on a sidewalk near one of Columbia's entrances in Upper Manhattan. "We refuse to accept a world where the mass murder of Palestinians is normalized, accepted, and profitable. Columbia University is complicit in this genocide," expressed the group known as Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine in a statement.

The organization accused the university of investing in weapon manufacturers and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, claiming that these investments fuel the ongoing genocide. Their message was clear: until Columbia University divests from what they deem as apartheid and genocide, their protests will continue. "This is just the beginning," they emphasized.

Despite the protests garnering attention and causing disruption, Columbia University has yet to issue a comment to Fox News Digital.

One protester was seen carrying a sign that read "Long live Hind's Hall." This reference alludes to a previous incident in late April when an anti-Israel mob stormed and occupied Hamilton Hall on Columbia's campus. The group renamed it "Hind's Hall" in memory of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old child who tragically lost her life during Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

An anonymous student at the scene stated that they were taking part in the demonstration because they believed the United States bore responsibility for an ongoing genocide. Asserting their determination, the student affirmed that protest activities would not cease until Columbia divests from what they view as complicity in Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people.

The situation at Columbia University remains tense as the protests intensify. The administration is yet to respond to the demands put forth by the demonstrators, leaving the campus community divided and uncertain about what lies ahead.