Universities across the United States have faced various disputes and controversies related to positions on Israel and Gaza, resulting in faculty changes, student activism, and legal action.

The University of Washington removed the director of its Persian and Iranian Studies Program after the academic made remarks calling Zionism a "cancerous" outgrowth in comments about Israel. The university has not disclosed additional details about the circumstances or timeline of the removal.

At Georgetown Law School, students successfully pressured the administration to replace a planned commencement speaker. Dr. Morton Schapiro was originally scheduled to speak but withdrew after students protested and petitioned against his selection, citing his pro-Israel views. The school replaced him with David Cole, former legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Emory University in Atlanta is facing a lawsuit from three tenured professors regarding the institution's handling of protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza during the spring 2024 semester. The legal action represents the culmination of what the university describes as a tumultuous end to the academic year.

The Emory campus has also seen additional controversies beyond the Gaza-related protests. Faculty and students have demanded the removal of Flock surveillance cameras installed on campus. Separately, Black law school students and other members of the university community protested the administration's response to social media posts and emails by a student that contained racial slurs.

These incidents reflect broader tensions on college campuses nationwide as universities navigate debates over Middle East policy, free speech, and campus climate issues during a period of heightened activism and polarization.