The Ezra Klein Show Mahmoud Khalil Tells His Story
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Aug 5, 2025 
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate student, shares his remarkable journey from a Syrian refugee camp to facing detention by ICE for his pro-Palestinian activism. He discusses the challenges of speaking out against U.S. foreign policy and the personal toll of activism. Khalil reflects on campus efforts to promote Palestinian rights and the complexities of identity politics and protest. He also critiques U.S. policies towards Palestine, revealing entrenched biases that persist across political administrations.
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Condemning Civilian Deaths, Calling For Justice
- Khalil condemns killing civilians and calls for international investigations to hold perpetrators accountable.
- Palestinians have used varied resistance forms but are subject to lethal repression, highlighting the complexity of their struggle.
Longstanding Student Activism at Columbia
- Student protests at Columbia around Palestine rights began well before 2023, with ongoing demands for divestment and justice.
- Protests escalated after Columbia rejected proposals and suspended activism groups, leading to encampments and civil disobedience.
Meaning of Palestinian Liberation
- Palestinian liberation means freedom, dignity, and justice without predetermined political solutions.
- The movement focuses on ending occupation and apartheid, not on state configurations.
