(TJV) An Israeli billionaire, and his wife, Batia Ofer, have decided to resign from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Business board due to the school president’s response to recent Hamas attacks in Israel.

Israeli billionaires Idan and Batia Ofer donated more than $20 million to the last capital campaign of the Harvard Kennedy School. Now, they’ve just announced they are QUITTING the school’s board after Harvard’s “shocking” response to Hamas’s mass butchery of Israeli civilians.… pic.twitter.com/IpdQ4o5WzB

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) October 13, 2023

Idan Ofer, who is the founder of Eastern Pacific Shipping with a reported net worth of over $14 billion, and Batia Ofer, an art collector with Holocaust survivor ancestry, have expressed their displeasure with President Claudine Gay’s handling of the situation, Daily Mail reported

Hamas supporters march at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA to call for the elimination of Israel and to support Palestine after the terror attacks commited by Hamas in Israel. pic.twitter.com/ZQzj3z4AfH

— Hilliard (@byhilliard) October 10, 2023

Their decision to step down from the executive board is a protest against what they perceive as a disappointing and insensitive response by the university president. Harvard administrators initially released a statement, attributed to Gay, expressing sadness about the violence caused by Hamas attacks in Israel but did not explicitly condemn the terrorist group. This omission led to backlash from many Harvard alumni.

President Gay subsequently issued a follow-up statement to clarify her position, condemning the actions of Hamas as inhuman. However, this response did not satisfy the Ofers, who are among the wealthiest families in Israel. Idan Ofer is a majority shareholder in major Israeli companies and a co-owner of Atletico Madrid, a prominent soccer club.

Harvard University has not yet provided a public comment on the matter. The controversy emerged after 31 Harvard organizations signed a letter placing blame on Israel for the ongoing Hamas attacks. The student organizations held the Israeli regime responsible for the ongoing violence.

This incident follows another controversy at the school when a professor apologized for implying that the Hamas attack on Israel was intended to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged corruption. The student organizations also accused the Israeli government of enforcing an apartheid system in Palestine.

Despite casualties in Israel, including American citizens, the groups called for an end to the suffering of Palestinians. They urged the Harvard community to take action against what they perceive as ongoing “Palestinian annihilation”.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee at Harvard has been involved in protests and activities related to the conflict, including an “Apartheid Week” and a “Boycott Israel Trek.” Various groups, including the African American Resistance Organization, Amnesty International, and others, signed the letter condemning Israel’s actions.

Meanwhile, the situation in the region remained tense, with Israel’s military preparing for a possible ground invasion, and Hamas continuing to launch rockets into Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO defense ministers were shown graphic images of casualties by the Israeli government to gain support for their response.

Blinken called the violence “depravity” and urged restraint while reaffirming America’s support for Israel. He planned to meet with leaders in the region, including Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, to address the crisis.

Hamas called on Palestinians to protest Israel’s actions, leading to further clashes and an increasing death toll on both sides. The conflict had resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza and Israel, with no immediate resolution in sight.