Arab Students Backing Oct 7 Hamas Attack Funded by Millions in Donations

A new report by the Adalah organization claims Israeli higher education institutions practice "apartheid" against Palestinian students following the October 7th Hamas attacks, citing disciplinary actions and suspensions due to social media posts. However, the report itself reveals a significant legal and financial support system, totaling nearly one million shekels, provided to these students.

Adalah, the Legal Center for the Rights of the Arab Minority in Israel, published its report in September 2026, accusing Israeli universities and colleges of discriminatory policies against Arab-Palestinian students after the October 7th massacre and during the subsequent war. The organization states that students faced disciplinary hearings, suspensions, and expulsions for their online statements and publications.

The report details that Adalah received 132 inquiries since October 7th, primarily from Palestinian students facing proceedings for social media activity across approximately 40 institutions. Adalah provided legal representation or support in about 100 of these cases, framing them as systematic violations of Palestinian students' freedom of expression.

Analysis of the social media content shows that around 24% of posts criticized Israel and the IDF, using terms like "occupation," "ethnic cleansing," and "genocide." Another 23% focused on the October 7th events with images and videos, and 22% addressed the war in Gaza. Some 16% included symbols like Palestinian flags or historical maps. Even "likes" on social media posts became grounds for complaints.

Adalah argues that many posts were prayers, expressions of grief, solidarity with Gaza residents, or national identity statements, which institutions misinterpreted or applied overly harsh judgments to. The report's acknowledgments reveal that the community and "international supporters" raised nearly one million shekels to fund the legal aid and representation for these students. The Galilee Foundation is also thanked for its "generous support" enabling the report's creation.

The report raises critical questions about the sources of these funds, the identity of the "international supporters," and the extent of external involvement in Israeli academia. While Adalah doesn't fully disclose funding origins, it explicitly documents the existence of a financial and legal infrastructure supporting the students. The Israeli academic system, caught off guard, had to navigate unprecedented challenges, balancing freedom of expression with concerns over incitement and support for terrorism, leading to varied responses across institutions.