Palestinian students and staff sue Columbia University alleging discrimination

WASHINGTON: A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, alleging discriminatory treatment by the school against its Palestinian community since late 2023, according to a court filing in New York.The lawsuit said the university failed to protect its Palestinian members from harassment and targeted them through what it cast as "unfair and biased disciplinary hearings".Columbia has previously denied being discriminatory and has condemned hate. Local media reported that it declined to comment on pending litigation. It did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.Protests took place at Columbia and around the US after the start of Israel's assault on Gaza following a deadly Palestinian Hamas attack in October 2023. Protesters demanded an end t