Cornell Professor on Leave of Absence for Controversial Hamas Comments

Cornell professor Russell Rickford, who previously described the Hamas attack on Israel as "exhilarating" and "energizing," has taken a leave of absence from the university until at least the end of the semester. After facing backlash and calls for his termination, Rickford apologized for his remarks, acknowledging that they were reprehensible and did not reflect his values. The university confirmed his leave of absence and stated that they are reviewing the incident. A petition demanding his termination has gained thousands of signatures, including support from US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and US Representative Claudia Tenney.