Inside the gates of Columbia University, a pro-Palestinian student encampment is going strong.

“It’s very important to understand that we are here for Gaza, and we are here for the genocide that is ongoing on the Palestinian people, that is ongoing across the entire historic Palestine, and that the only reason this encampment exist is for them — until they are free,” Majd, a member of the encampment who declined to give her last name or confirm she was a student, told NY1.

Outside the gates Friday morning, a pro-Israel demonstration took place. Protesters said their aim was to put attention on the hostages remaining in Gaza.

Leat Corinne Unger is a Columbia alum whose cousin is one of the hostages remaining in Gaza.

“The end of all suffering — innocent suffering, it doesn’t matter what side you’re on, if our pro-Palestine, if you’re pro-Israel, if you’re pro-human, the start and end of the suffering begins and ends with the release of 133 innocent human lives that were paused on Oct. 7 through a brutal terrorist attack,” she said.

Hours later, several campus Jewish groups held a press conference saying the university encampment had left them feeling unsafe on campus.

“My peers, my friends, my family are afraid. I cannot walk around my campus, looking visibly Jewish without preparing myself for the possibility that someone might spit on or attack me,” Noa Fay, a student at Barnard College & Columbia School for International and Public Affairs, said.

But when NY1 and other media were allowed on campus Friday afternoon, the scene was peaceful — though some students were not happy about the media attention, and asked cameras to remain on the edges of the camp. Students said people of all faiths are welcome at the encampment.

“Particularly as a Jewish student, the way I was raised is that to be Jewish is to know what oppression is, and so it’s my responsibility to stand up and fight oppression wherever I see it, and that’s really a part of the reason why I’m here — because it is so so clear that what Israel is doing to Palestinians is wrong,” Ava Lyon-Sereno, a second-year student at Barnard who was supporting the encampment, said.

Students must now show ID to access campus, in part of an effort by the university to keep out any outside agitators. At times, the situation outside the campus gates did grow tense, with demonstrators, who did not appear to be students, shouting at one another.

Students at the encampment say they intend to stay put until their demands, which include divestment from companies tied to Israel and amnesty for student protesters, are met. Meanwhile, the same lawn being used for the encampment is being prepared for graduation, with commencement festivities set to be held on May 15.