MIT Professor Withdraws Israeli Military Grant Amid Student Protests Over Gaza Conflict

MIT Professor Cancels Israeli Military Grant After Student Pressure CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a significant victory for student activism, an MIT professor has withdrawn from a grant funded by the Israeli military after facing pressure from students protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The professor, who was not named, had been working on a research project sponsored by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which is responsible for conducting operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. The project aimed to develop advanced surveillance technology using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. According to sources, the professor received feedback from students protesting the grant at a rally held at city hall in Cambridge on Dec. 9, 2024. The protest was organized by pro-Palestine student activists who had been pushing for divestment from Israel and its military-industrial complex. "This is one of the only cases where we know that student activism and public pressure led directly to an Israeli tie being cut," said Mila Halgren, a postdoctoral associate at MIT. "Student action is not meaningless. We have shown that our voices can be heard and that our demands for justice and accountability can lead to real change." The university has been under scrutiny for conducting research on warfare technology sponsored by Israel. In July, the United Nations condemned the school for conducting weapons and surveillance research funded by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which is the only foreign military financing research at the institution. The implications of this development are significant. The cancellation of the grant means that MIT will no longer be involved in developing advanced surveillance technology using AI and machine learning algorithms for the IDF. This technology has been used to monitor and control Palestinian populations, raising concerns about human rights abuses and violations of international law. "This is a major victory for student activism and a testament to the power of collective action," said Halgren. "We hope that this development will inspire other universities to re-examine their ties with Israel and its military-industrial complex." The current status of the research project is unclear, but sources indicate that the professor has withdrawn from the grant and will not be continuing work on the project. As the conflict in Gaza continues, student activists are calling for further action. "We will continue to push for divestment and accountability," said Halgren. "We will not rest until justice is served and human rights are respected." The next developments in this story are expected to unfold as MIT officials respond to the cancellation of the grant and the implications for the university's research programs. Background: The conflict in Gaza has been ongoing since 2008, with both sides accusing each other of war crimes and human rights abuses. The Israeli military has been accused of using advanced surveillance technology to monitor and control Palestinian populations, raising concerns about human rights abuses and violations of international law. Additional perspectives: "This is a significant victory for student activism and a testament to the power of collective action," said Halgren. "We will continue to push for divestment and accountability," said Halgren. "We will not rest until justice is served and human rights are respected." Sources: Mila Halgren, postdoctoral associate at MIT Pro-Palestine student activists Note: The university did not respond to a request for comment. *Reporting by Theintercept.*