Columbia sets deadline for protesters to leave campus

1. Letter to university says protests have become 'breeding ground' for antisemitism

   Columbia University in New York has become the focal point of the country's debates over the war in Gaza and US support for Israel, as well as fears that antisemitism is putting Jewish students in danger.

   "It is past time for the university to act decisively, disband the encampment, and ensure the safety and security of all of its students," a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote on Monday in a letter to the school's board of trustees.

   The letter, signed by leading pro-Israeli voices and high-profile Jewish members of Congress, described the encampment as a "breeding ground for antisemitic attacks on Jewish students".

   "The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now," the 21 Democrats wrote, calling on board members to resign if they were unwilling to act.

2. Watch: How Gaza campus protests spread across the US

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   Video caption: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the USSee how Gaza campus protests spread across the US

3. Columbia students must 'disband or face suspension'

   

   Brandon Livesay

   Reporting from New York

   Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the university protests in the US, where pro-Palestinian protest groups have set up encampments across multiple college campuses.

   The movement ignited at Columbia University on 18 April, when New York police officers were called in and arrested more than 100 students.

   Today, the focus is once again on Columbia. University administrators have ordered students participating in the ongoing pro-Gaza campus encampment to disband or face disciplinary action.

   In a letter on Monday, the school warned of interim suspensions for all students who do not voluntarily leave the protest by 1400 EST (1800 GMT).

   Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates as the deadline approaches.