In a display of solidarity with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, dozens of students at Duke University staged a walkout during the commencement speech delivered by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. However, false claims emerged online, accusing the protesters of anti-Semitism due to Seinfeld's Jewish identity.

According to reports, approximately 100 graduating students at Duke University chanted "Free, free Palestine" as they left the ceremony, holding up Palestinian flags and wearing kaffiyeh scarves as symbols of support for the Palestinian cause. The walkout was organized not because of Seinfeld's religious identity but due to his vocal support for Israel and his wife's involvement in supporting counterprotests to pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Online accusations of anti-Semitism stemmed from posts by former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger and Democratic U.S. Representative Daniel Goldman. Kinzinger wrote, "So students at Duke walk out because the speaker, Jerry Seinfeld, is Jewish? This is antisemitism, cloaked in concern for Gaza." However, there is no documented evidence to support the claim that the walkout was motivated by Seinfeld's Jewish identity.

The student organizers of the walkout clarified that their protest was centered around several issues. These included Seinfeld's support for Israel, demands for Duke University to disclose its investments in Israel and divest from companies with ties to Israel, and the call for a ceasefire in the Israeli military operations. The protesters aimed to draw attention to the crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli military operations have resulted in a significant loss of lives.

While Jerry Seinfeld expressed his support for Israel and the Jewish people following the 2023 attacks by Hamas militants, the organizers stressed that their protest was not directed at his personal beliefs or religious background. They emphasized that their dissatisfaction originated from the university's decision to invite an individual who openly supported the Israeli military while the conflict in Gaza persisted.

Footage from the event showed the protesting students leaving the ceremony, calling for accountability and an immediate end to the violence. Some students who did not participate in the walkout expressed support for their peers, noting that the protest did not disrupt the ceremony and provided an opportunity for students to voice their opinions.

Organizers distributed flyers with their demands to the university before the ceremony, which included calls for Duke to disclose its investments in Israel, divest from companies supporting the occupation of Palestine, boycott academic partnerships with Israeli universities, and advocate for a ceasefire. The student protest highlighted the urgency of the situation and their commitment to raising awareness about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

It is important to note that the exact intentions of each participating student cannot be fully determined. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the walkout was driven by antisemitism or targeted at Jerry Seinfeld's Jewish identity.

As the controversy surrounding the walkout continues, Duke University and its students face a critical moment in addressing the underlying issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest on campus. The university administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the walkout.