Florida orders state universities to disband pro-Palestinian student group

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is linking a pro-Palestinian student organization to terrorism and is ordering state universities to ban the group from campuses, saying it illegally backs Hamas militants who attacked Israel earlier this month.

The two active organizations are at the University of Florida and University of South Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Student organizations are funded with student fees that are allocated by student governments.

As Israel’s attacks on Gaza have intensified, some college students have expressed solidarity with Palestinians, resulting in swift censure from some Jewish academics and even some prospective employers. But Florida has gone further, taking the extraordinary step of saying Students for Justice in Palestine is supporting a “terrorist organization.”

State university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues wrote to university presidents Tuesday at Gov. Ron DeSantis' urging, directing them to disband chapters of SJP after the national group took the position that "Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement."