Updated: May 8, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Officials are investigating reports that individuals dropped vials of an unknown substance at Israel Fest last week, leaving at least one student injured, per a University release published Tuesday.
Officials said the incident was an “apparent attempt to disrupt” Israel Fest, an annual event GW for Israel hosts to show support for Israel through activities and Israeli food and music, which occurred on April 27 in Kogan Plaza. The University and law enforcement are utilizing “all available avenues” to investigate the incident “as appropriate” to determine whether individuals at the event were targeted based on their Jewish faith and to hold perpetrators accountable, per the release.
“The University condemns this reprehensible and criminal action,” the release states. “Acts like this have no place in our community, which is a safe and inclusive place for individuals of all backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.”
The GW Police Department did not immediately return a request to comment on whether GWPD is the law enforcement agency investigating the reports, how many students were injured and whether police have determined any suspects.
Officials shared the vials dropped were commonly available “stink bombs,” and do not pose any health risk to those nearby, per a second University release published Friday. The University will continue to provide updates when appropriate, however officials’ ability to do so is “limited” while the investigation remains active, according to the release.
The Metropolitan Police Department directed The Hatchet’s request to comment on whether they were investigating the incident to GWPD.
The incident comes after a series of accusations of widespread antisemitism on campus since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, including a Department of Justice’s investigation in August that found GW acted “deliberately indifferent” to student and faculty reports of antisemitism during the during the spring 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment, allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
A group of students and alumni filed a lawsuit against the University last May accusing officials and the Board of Trustees of mishandling antisemitism since the onset of the war in Gaza, and students testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in February detailing their experiences of antisemitism at GW and criticizing the University’s insufficient response to their reports.
GW Hillel — one of the event’s co-sponsors — said in an Instagram statement Wednesday they are aware of the reports and are “grateful” for officials’ and security personnel’s response.
“Incidents like this will not deter our community,” GW Hillel’s statement said. “GW Hillel will continue to support our students so they can proudly be Jewish.”
GW for Israel did not immediately return a request for comment on whether members of the group feel unsafe on campus or whether they have communicated with officials about the incident.
The event’s other co-sponsors include Jewish on Campus, Chabad and L’Chaim, along with external organizations like ZOA Campus — the student-focused division of nationwide nonprofit Zionist Organization of America.
This post has been updated to include the following:
This post was updated to include further comment from the University.
