Cornell Professor Takes Leave of Absence After Calling Hamas Attack on Israel 'Exhilarating'

Professor Russell Rickford faced widespread condemnation for his remarks about a deadly Hamas attack, generating demands for his termination including from the New York Senator and Representative, while a petition gathered over 11,000 signatures.

Cornell history professor Russell Rickford, who called the lethal Hamas attack on Israel 'exhilarating,' has taken a leave of absence from the university.
Rickford made his controversial remarks at an off-campus rally in Ithaca, N.Y., causing immediate calls for his resignation, including from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Claudia Tenney (D-N.Y.).
A petition on change.org calling for Rickford's resignation has collected over 11,000 signatures.
In response to the backlash, the university issued a statement condemning his comments and expressing that they are not representative of Cornell's values.
Following the controversy, Rickford apologized for his choice of words, stating they did not reflect his values and he recognizes the language he used was reprehensible.
The deadly Hamas attack on Israel caused the death of over 1,400 Israelis, most of whom were civilians.