Let's turn to the US, where pro-Palestinian protests are continuing at major universities. Several have called police in, leading to hundreds of arrests. At Columbia University in New York, the center of the demonstrations, a student leader has been barred from the campus over comments he previously made. At the same time, Columbia's Senate, which makes decisions on behalf of students and teachers, has voted to investigate how the university's leadership handled the protests. Nomiya Iqbal reports from New New York.

Another day and another encampment has cropped up in the US. In this part of New York, students camped outside the City College.

We should make sure that community administration knows that we will not back down.

Sarah is Palestinian American.

Students here and faculty here are not scared of anything. They're willing to risk their careers. They're willing to risk their schools, their personal lives. They know that there's a risk of arrest. They know there's a risk of suspension, but they're willing to stand here and risk it all for Palestine and for divestment.

Sogey once studied here.

I came here out of curiosity.

He describes himself as very pro-Israel.

I do find it unfair that certain groups are allowed to occupy public space, block people's access to those spaces. I do find it offensive when my people are accused of genocide, when we defend ourselves. But at the same time, I do recognize freedom of speech, freedom of assembly.

This protest is peaceful, though, as the crowds grow, So does the police presence. Tensions between officers and students have led to an escalation across many parts of America. From Georgia to Texas, to Ohio and California, there have been hundreds of arrests, with students accused of trespassing. The protests were started here by Columbia University students more than a week ago. Tensions have been fought between those who are pro-Palestinian and those who are pro-Israeli today, both accusing each other of hate speech. One student has since apologized for prior remarks saying Zionists don't deserve to live. Khiminy James has now been barred from the protest site.

It's much calmer here today at Columbia University. But the students in the encampment behind me aren't budging on their demands. They and other students who are protesting across the country are calling on their universities to essentially cut economic under academic ties with Israeli institutions.

All of our demands have to be achieved in order for us to leave the encampment.

We're asking for financial transparency. We're asking for cops off campus. We're asking for amnesty for all students that have faced disciplinary charges or have been suspended or arrested.

Tali is one of those students.

I think it was very jarring to be placed in zip ties and held for that long. But I will also say, as frustrating and angry and scary as it was, also very proud to be standing in solidarity with my peers.

American campuses have long been political battlegrounds. The October seventh attacks in Israel are the latest flashpoint, with many universities struggling to rein in the turmoil.. Nomi Rykbal, BBC News, New York.