The pilot training classes of the academic who referred to the Israeli army as the “baby killer” have been terminated. Sebastian Ben-Daniel had stated that the Israeli army carried out “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank.

According to the news on Israeli state television, the Israeli Air Force ended Ben-Gurion University lecturer Sebastian Ben-Daniel’s pilot training classes, as well as 26 professors at the university who allegedly wrote a letter to the school’s management demanding Ben-Daniel’s dismissal, stating that he had “damaged the reputation of the university and its students”. The letter claimed that Ben-Daniel’s words were not freedom of expression but “overt incitement”. The Zionist Im Tirtzu organization also called for Ben-Daniel to be dismissed, claiming that he had no place in any academic institution in Israel.

Reacting to the allegations of “ethnic cleansing,” Ben-Daniel had also pointed out on social media in early March that Israeli soldiers “voluntarily carried out orders to kill children,” were taught to “kill Palestinian children,” and that the Israeli army was “baby killers.” He had also mentioned that the Israeli army was carrying out “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank, and described Israel as an “apartheid” regime. Following these remarks, Ben-Daniel was suspended by the university management due to a petition prepared by the Im Tirtzu organization and signed by over a thousand students. Later, the university released a statement mentioning that the complaints regarding the lecturer had been reviewed, leading to the decision to lift the suspension. The university conveyed that Ben-Daniel had apologized for his comments. Additionally, the Haaretz newspaper reported that over 100 lecturers showed support for Ben-Daniel by writing a letter to the school management, stating that his criticisms should be viewed as within the realm of freedom of expression and calling on the university to protect the academician from a “witch hunt.”