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As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, the world is getting involved in the tension including the University of British Columbia and UBC Okanagan which will be tested by a proposed class action lawsuit over allegedly antisemitic incidents.

A current and a former UBC student launched the claim against UBC and student organizations over multiple incidents, most recently pointing to an activist's lecture in May 2022, in which the speaker called Israel's government a "Zionist apartheid regime."

The claim was filed Nov. 1, but did not name the two students. "Jane Doe," a current student, and "John Doe," a graduate, say they are fearful of being identified as Jewish on campus. They said Jewish students hide or remove religious symbols, afraid of being "targeted" or "heckled" on campus during any discussions of Middle Eastern politics, according to the claim.

Incidents described in the claim appear to be focused on the Vancouver campus, but the Okanagan Students' Union is also named as a defendant, along with the UBC Alma Mater Society and the Graduate Student Society.

"There is a well-documented history of antisemitic sentiments on the UBC campus," the notice of claim reads, going on to say the examples it specifies are "just some" of the incidents.

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The May 2022 lecture by Laith Marouf accused media of "upholding white supremacy and genocide," according to the claim.

The federal government axed an anti-racism initiative Marouf was involved in last year, shortly after the lecture. He was under fire for tweets seen as antisemitic.

"You know all those loud mouthed bags of human feces, aka the Jewish White Supremacists; when we liberate Palestine and they have to go back to where they come from, they will return to being low voiced bitches of thier (sic) Christian/Secular White Supremacist Masters," one of his tweets read, according to The Canadian Press.

The anonymous students go on to cite the assault of a Jewish student within UBC student housing. The student's mezuzah was ripped from their door and vandalized by three people, which the university said was the second time a similar incident had occurred, according to the lawsuit.

The last example noted was in February 2018 when student groups Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights UBC and Colour Connected shared an article on social media that "blatantly promotes antisemitism and bigotry." The post was deleted and the group apologized, but the damage was already done, according to the claim.

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"Despite the apologies, the sentiments proliferated in the article that was promoted by the UBC student groups are harmful and act to isolate and target Jewish students, resulting in an unsafe environment that has been fostered over time at the UBC campus," the claim reads.

Although the notice of claim does not mention the most recent updates to the Middle Eastern conflict, or ongoing protests on the Vancouver campus, the intensity of the pro-Palestinian sentiment among students appears to have swelled in recent weeks.

Interim UBC president Deborah Buszard issued a statement on Oct. 11 following Hamas' attack on Israeli civilians.

"As this conflict deepens and innocent civilians are caught in the tragic repercussions in Israel, Gaza and elsewhere, the implications are distressing for those with families and friends affecting," her statement reads, going on to voice support for a peaceful resolution.

In response, "members of the academic community" went on to pen an open letter, condemning Buszard's statement. It "remains silent" on the "ongoing state terror" conducted by Israel, according to the letter.

The open letter was published alongside a petition calling for the president's office to condemn Israeli state violence and to offer support for people that voice their support for Palestine.

The Palestinian support swelled last week as more than 130 faculty members and 1,175 students signed the petition, according to The Ubyssey.

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The student news outlet went on to report on an Oct. 25 protest in which many walked out to support Palestinians, with one sign that hung from a university building reading "Israel is committing genocide in Gaza."

Jewish student group Hillel BC issued a statement on Oct. 24, voicing concern over "escalating and increasing" incidents of antisemitism on campuses across BC.

"As a pillar of support for Jewish students, we are committed to combatting any form of hatred or discrimination directed at our community," the statement reads.

The anonymous students behind the proposed class action, meanwhile, said the university and student groups have inadequately responded to complaints of antisemitism in the past.

None of the student's claims have been proven in court and neither the university nor the student groups have responded in court.

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