By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, alleging discriminatory treatment by the school against its Palestinian community since late 2023, according to a court filing in New York. • The lawsuit said the university failed to protect its Palestinian members from harassment and targeted them through what it cast as "unfair and biased disciplinary hearings." • Protests took place at Columbia and around the U.S. after the start of Israel's assault on Gaza following a deadly Palestinian Hamas attack in October 2023. • In May 2025, Columbia suspended more than 65 students for their role in shutting down the university's main library in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. • That demonstration came as the university was negotiating with President Donald Trump's administration, which had cut its federal funding after accusing the university of tolerating antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests.