Stanford investigating after altercation between Israeli soldier and student during event

STANFORD, Calif. (KGO) -- White Plaza, Stanford University's designated free speech zone, is at the center of an investigation after a physical altercation between a visitor and a student during an organized event earlier this week.

Stanford University confirmed that the incident happened Wednesday and involved "a physical altercation between a visitor to campus and a Stanford student."

In a statement, the university said Stanford University Department of Public Safety officers responded and that "a thorough investigation is ongoing."

An anonymous witness told ABC7 Eyewitness News that a former Israeli soldier and Miss Israel 2025 were on campus participating in an organized free speech event. According to the witness, the visitors displayed signs reading, "I'm Miss Israel. I'm an IDF Soldier. Ask us anything." The witness said a group of students began verbally harassing the visitors, using what the witness described as aggressive language and calling them terrorists, while the visitors listened. The witness said a student then ran up to the table and took something from it, prompting the former soldier to chase after the student.

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German Gonzalez with Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine, said the IDF officer was "agitating and engaging in genocide denialism." Seconds later, "The student took a paper sign from their table and tried to leave the situation. Afterwards the student was tackled by the IDF agent and pushed to the ground and restrained and put in a chokehold," Gonzalez said.

Other students said the incident raises broader questions about conduct and dialogue on campus. "Our democracy can only function if you have productive, peaceful discourse that's occurring," said Will Pirone, a Stanford junior. "And I think, you know, running by grabbing someone's sign, intentionally trying to disrupt that instead of actually engaging with the substantive material. I think that's a little bit sad and disappointing. I think we're better than that as Stanford students."

Stanford said it remains committed to ensuring White Plaza continues to be a space where students can express their views.

Asked whether he feels able to express his viewpoints on campus, Pirone said he does but emphasized concerns about how conflicts unfold.

"I think the problem is, when instead of hashing these things out via words and through discussion and debate, you instead kind of use physical actions and violence," he said. "I think that's the worst possible thing that can happen. And I think it's fundamentally un-American."