A prestigious US university has suspended two student groups that organised protests against Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, saying they violated campus policies, AFP reports.

Gerald Rosberg, Columbia University’s chair of the special committee on campus safety, said on Friday that Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace would be suspended throughout the fall semester.

“This decision was made after the two groups repeatedly violated university policies related to holding campus events, culminating in an unauthorised event on Thursday afternoon that proceeded despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and intimidation,” he said in a statement.

“The students in these groups are acting with moral clarity. They are protesting war and trying to save lives by calling for a ceasefire,” the statement said. Rosberg said the suspension would only be lifted if the two groups showed “a commitment to compliance with University policies.”

Columbia’s SJP chapter meanwhile said, “You can shut our organisations down, but can’t stop our hearts from beating for liberation, humanity, and the freedom of Palestine.” The suspension strips the groups of funding and means they cannot hold events on campus.