BELLINGHAM, WA – Western Washington University has responded after some departments came under criticism for liking and sharing a social media post from an Arab student group that supported the Hamas attack on Israel.

Western President Sabah Randhawa issued a statement Thursday acknowledging and apologizing for the post shared on the school’s Ethnic Student Center Instagram account.

He said the post should not have been shared and emphasized that no group speaks for the school or its leadership.

Western’s Arab Student Association posted a statement on Instagram Tuesday that claimed the killings by Hamas were justified.

The Ethnic Student Center (ESC) later issued a statement of regret for sharing the post.

Randhawa said the school is saddened by the horrific violence taking place in Israel and Gaza.

He added that the Counseling and Wellness Center is offering services to help students who are struggling to make sense of the current events and their impact.

The Arab Student Association (ASA) held a rally in support of Palestine in WWU’s Red Square Friday.

The ASA also issued a statement on Instagram Wednesday about the war, from the perspective of pro-Palestine.

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