US federal authorities on Wednesday announced indictments against eight anti-Israel activists for allegedly threatening Jews, University of Michigan leaders and law enforcement after the start of the war in Gaza.

The suspects “orchestrated detailed plans to threaten University of Michigan leaders, law enforcement and businesses with coordinated criminal acts” due to the targets’ perceived support for Israel, the indictment said.

The campaign began on October 20, 2023 — two weeks after the Hamas onslaught in southern Israel that slaughtered 1,200 people, mostly civilians, but before Israel’s counter-offensive on the ground in Gaza began.

The defendants posted demands for the University of Michigan leadership calling for divestment from Israel and any businesses connected to Israel. They also demanded “investigations” and that the university issue a statement calling Israel’s counter-offensive a “genocidal ethnic cleansing.”

The suspects were all associated with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, either as students, former students, or employees.

When the university did not adhere to the demands, the suspects prepared “autonomous actions,” such as occupying campus buildings, vandalism, disrupting university events and posting threats online.

The defendants joined a “Gaza solidarity encampment” at the university, and, from the encampment, issued a statement saying, “We look to our martyrs and freedom fighters for guidance… the student intifada will never be silenced.”

After the university shut down the encampment, the defendants turned to individual targets.

The suspects held meetings to identify targets and searched online for information on those targets, such as personal addresses, photos, social connections, business ownership and other personal details, prosecutors said.

The defendants allegedly surveilled their targets, carried out counter-surveillance against police, discussed how to evade law enforcement, bought and distributed supplies, mapped out attack routes and coordinated on encrypted platforms.

The defendants discussed using........

© The Times of Israel