University of Rochester walks back Hamas attack statement. Now says 'act of terrorism.'

The University of Rochester has stepped into controversy over the Hamas attack on Israel, having to walk back statements that it made.

Along with other college campuses and university groups it finds itself embroiled in the troubling news out of the Middle East and engaging with polarized student bodies in the United States.

Last weekend’s surprise attack by Hamas on Israeli communities, killing many hundreds, has highlighted divides that are the sharpest among such U.S. millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, whose sympathy toward Palestinians has grown in recent years.

A Gallup poll released in March found that unlike older generations who remain more sympathetic to Israel, millennials are almost evenly split on whether they align more with Israelis or Palestinians. Limited data suggested that members of the younger Generation Z hold similar views.

To be clear, the horrifying attack on Israel citizens — men, women and children, nearly all civilians — was organized and carried about by the Hamas terror organization that has a stated aim of wiping Israel off the map. Israel has begun a deadly military response that has led to many hundreds of reported Hamas and civilian casualties this past week.

What did the University of Rochester say about Israel?

The first University of Rochester message was up on social media early this week, dated in one instance on social media as Oct. 9, as images circulated of the attacks by Hamas and of the Israeli military's response.

"University leadership shares their support to the University community, especially those with ties to the recent escalations within Israel and the Gaza Strip. Read the full statement and find links to University resources ⤵️"

The link that was connected to the first UR post now re-directs to a retraction message on the UR website.

Here is the original message on Instagram:

Reaction on social media to UR statement on Israeli war

One commenter on X (formerly Twitter) said about the University of Rochester: "As a parent on the largest FB parent page, I will be sharing your 1st statement to make sure no one sends their children there. I hope all alum have cancelled their donations."

Another said: "Sorry, @UofR. You can't unring a bell."

Apology from Rochester university leaders

A few days later, the university retracted its message to the college community.

"Let us be clear: We view the Hamas attack on Israel as an act of terrorism, and we are horrified by the images and stories of slaughter of so many innocent people."

"In our previous response to the shocking attack on Israel and the subsequent human suffering, we acknowledge that we missed the mark," said the Oct. 11 retraction. "We are truly sorry that a message that was meant to console only amplified the pain that so many of us are feeling."

Devastating attack on Israel, warning leads to Friday fear in U.S.

Schools this week have been roiled by arguments over the Middle Eastern terror attack and some American campuses have taken social media warnings about safety on Friday to heart.

One threat, reportedly made by Hamas on social media, calling for worldwide jihad Friday, has been investigated but not confirmed by the FBI and local law enforcement, but has prompted some New York school districts to increase their police presence.

The FBI on Tuesday issued a public service announcement, titled: "Situation in Israel."

"While we continue to collect and analyze intelligence from a variety of sources," it read, "we do not currently have specific intelligence reflecting additional attack planning against the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel which began on Oct. 7, 2023. However, foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters remain committed to attacking the United States within and beyond our borders."

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Lohud.com and USA TODAY contributed to this article.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Colleges' response to Israel-Hamas war: UR retracts statement