A student statement from Harvard University blaming "Israel" for the attacks on Gaza is being criticized and Harvard is being called out by some of its most prominent political alumni for not condemning the statement.

Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president and longtime Washington economic policy hand, wrote on X: “The silence from Harvard’s leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups’ statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel." 

The Democrat who served as Treasury Secretary under former President Bill Clinton added: “I am sickened. I cannot fathom the administration’s failure to disassociate the university and condemn this statement.”

The silence from Harvard’s leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.

— Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) October 9, 2023

The mostly Republican figures who graduated from Harvard called out their alma mater for not siding with "Israel". 

“What the hell is wrong with Harvard?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who attended Harvard Law School, posted on X.

What the hell is wrong with Harvard?

Given the choice between standing with Israel or supporting terrorists who are raping, kidnapping & killing thousands of women & children…31 student groups choose the terrorists.

Their blazing hatred & antisemitism utterly blinding. https://t.co/86kvynyIFs

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 9, 2023

Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House Republican Conference Chair, posted Sunday on X: “It is abhorrent and heinous that Harvard student groups are blaming Israel for Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attacks that have killed over 700 Israelis.”

It is abhorrent and heinous that Harvard student groups are blaming Israel for Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attacks that have killed over 700 Israelis. Any voice that excuses the slaughter of innocent women and children has chosen the side of evil and terrorism.

I am calling on the… https://t.co/fooS4ujJUY

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) October 9, 2023

The student statement read that the Hamas-led operation “did not occur in a vacuum” and that "Israel" was “entirely responsible for the unfolding of violence.”

“In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israel’s violence,” the students added.

A constant conservative target

In response, Harvard’s leadership released a statement on Monday night that centered on its commitment to open dialogue rather than particularly addressing the student organizations.

“We have no illusion that Harvard alone can readily bridge the widely different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we are hopeful that, as a community devoted to learning, we can take steps that will draw on our common humanity and shared values to modulate rather than amplify the deep-seated divisions and animosities so distressingly evident in the wider world,” the statement said.

A statement review shows that most of the 35 student organizations that signed the letter are identity-based groups and several of them support the rights of Palestinian people.

Just last year, the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, in a recent report to the United Nations, recognized that the Israeli occupation regime is one of apartheid.

The report sent to the UN Independent Commission investigating Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank highlights "Tel Aviv's" discriminatory laws and regulations, which the occupation has been using to systemically discriminate against Palestinians and suppress their civil and political rights.

This could pose an early and tough challenge for Claudine Gay, who just became Harvard’s president this summer and as the university remains a constant target of conservative criticism and was the main target of the Supreme Court case that flipped affirmative action in June.