"DeSantis sparks controversy with crackdown on pro-Palestinian student groups"

Florida's university system, in collaboration with Governor Ron DeSantis, has ordered colleges to shut down chapters of the pro-Palestinian student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). This makes Florida the first U.S. state to outlaw the group, citing their national leadership's support for Hamas' attack on Israel. The State University System of Florida stated that the SJP chapters must be deactivated due to their "harmful support for terrorist groups." Tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian students have led to harassment and assaults at U.S. universities. Governor DeSantis has previously taken a hard line against Palestinians, suggesting that Gazan civilians be denied water and utilities until Hamas releases hostages. The ban is based on a "toolkit" issued by the national SJP, which referred to Hamas' attack as "the resistance" and stated that Palestinian students in exile are part of the movement.