In a dramatic turn of events, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) was the scene of an intense confrontation on Tuesday as security personnel forcibly removed a small group of anti-war protesters from the campus grounds. This incident unfolded just before a scheduled talk by Anti-Defamation League (ADL) chief Jonathan Greenblatt, which had been heavily criticized and ultimately declared "cancelled" by HKU after mounting backlash.

The protesters gathered inside the Run Run Shaw Tower, where Greenblatt was set to address the "dangers of antisemitism and online hate speech" at the university's School of Modern Languages and Cultures. Despite the official cancellation, rumblings suggested that the talk might proceed, prompting activists to voice their concerns and skepticism.

An online petition spearheaded by grassroots activists gathered over 1,000 signatures, denouncing Greenblatt for allegedly equating opposition to Israeli policies with white supremacy, which incited outrage from various advocacy groups. The petition claimed that his viewpoint was damaging to the discourse surrounding Israel and Palestine and urged the university to revoke his invitation.

Security personnel filmed the protest and attempted to restrict media coverage as the activists wielded placards emblazoned with slogans like “Make fascists afraid again” and “Calling resistance ‘terrorist’ hides the real terror of the coloniser.” One protester, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed their frustration with the ADL's perceived agenda, stating, “We’re here to protest their attempt to suppress legitimate criticism of Israel and the ongoing violence against Palestinians.”

The situation escalated when the police were called to the scene, resulting in the protesters being escorted off-campus after their identification details were documented. University staff informed the activists that protests and placards were not permitted without express permission, labeling their demonstration a disturbance.

As the protest subsided, attention shifted to a solitary student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, holding his own placard reading, "War is a crime," while donning a keffiyeh, a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Greenblatt's visit is not without prior controversy, as he has previously declared that "anti-Zionism is antisemitism," positioning the ADL amidst criticisms that it has shifted focus from combating antisemitism to advocating for Israel's policies. The ADL recently found itself in hot water for its reaction to a Nazi salute at a political rally involving entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, the conflict in Gaza continues to intensify as the toll from the ongoing violence reports staggering figures—over 50,000 fatalities, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Following the October 7 assault by Hamas, which led to significant casualties and hostage-taking, scrutiny of the situation and calls for accountability from both Israeli and Palestinian sides have only intensified.

Global civil rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have raised alarms over potential war crimes, noting previous rulings from the International Criminal Court suggesting complicity from Israeli leaders. As protests surge internationally, the tension over these urgent humanitarian issues continues to manifest on campuses and in communities worldwide.

As the situation develops, both the HKU community and global onlookers await further actions from the university and responses from Greenblatt regarding the incident and the continuing clashes in the region.