A Columbia professor used the word "awesome" to describe the Hamas attacks on October 7 as part of a course on Zionism.

An Ivy League professor who praised Hamas' attacks on Israel as "awesome" will teach a course on Zionism at Columbia University.

Joseph Massad's class will focus on the "History of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskala) in 19th century Europe and the development of Zionism through the current peace process between the state of Israel and the Arab states and the Palestinian national movement," as stated on Columbia's website.

After Hamas attacked Israel, Massad wrote a column on The Electronic Intifada, expressing his astonishment at the sight of Palestinian resistance fighters storming Israeli checkpoints. He noted that this scene was particularly shocking to the Palestinian and Arab peoples who gathered to support the Palestinians in their fight against their oppressors.

The scenes witnessed by millions of jubilant Arabs who spent the day watching the news, of Palestinian fighters from Gaza breaking through Israel’s prison fence or gliding over it by air, were no less awesome, he added.

Neither Columbia University nor Massad responded promptly to Planet Chronicle Digital's inquiries.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., a strong supporter of Israel in Congress, criticized the class on X, stating, "Why should U.S. taxpayers fund ideological brainwashing that celebrates the murder, mutilation, rape, and kidnapping of Jews and Israelis?"

"Joseph Massad, who defends October 7th as "amazing" and "extraordinary," will teach a course on Zionism at Columbia University. What's next at Columbia? David Duke teaching a course on racial equality."

Lawrence Rosenblatt, an adjunct professor at Columbia's international and public affairs school, is said to have resigned due to a class issue.

"Rosenblatt wrote in his resignation letter that while Massad has the right to his beliefs, Columbia has a responsibility to teach objectively and fairly. He argued that a class on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict co-taught from diverse perspectives could be tolerated, but not by someone who advocates for the eradication of a group of people."