A survivor of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel delivered powerful testimony about her 54 days in captivity as she faced off with a student protest leader at a campus debate in Southern California.

The confrontation, captured in a video segment released Monday by The Gr8 Debate and filmed by Trusted Confidential Coverage (TCC), brought together former hostage Moran Stella Yanai, UCLA encampment leader Aidan Doyle, and Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef.

Released hostage Moran Stella Yanai stands up to UCLA Encampment leader Aidan Doyle, who glorified October 7 Massacre.

Doyle refuses to look at Moran as she courageously and calmly shares her testimony of being lynched and kidnapped by 13 HMS terrorists.

"Do you know how many… pic.twitter.com/aN1Ske9lCh

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) November 18, 2024

Moran Stella Yanai, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, confronted UCLA encampment leader Aidan Doyle in an emotional exchange where she detailed the brutal violence she endured after being taken to Gaza. Doyle, who had previously expressed support for the Oct. 7 attack, avoided eye contact throughout much of Yanai's testimony.

"We went to dance. We didn't attack," Yanai said of the festival, as Doyle shook his head. "Don't get annoyed. I'm really asking you as a person, do you support those actions? If you didn't support those actions and October 7th didn't happen, would we sit here, talking right now?" Doyle replied: "Well yeah, actually, we probably would be."

Yanai described how her ordeal began when she broke her leg while trying to escape through the desert near Mount Negev. She recounted the horror of being taken into Gaza, where she witnessed civilians celebrating her capture despite her visible injuries.

"When I was entering Gaza I saw 100 percent of civilians celebrating me being taken," she said, describing her broken leg and extensive bruising. "I didn't know about the other hostages, I thought it was only me."

Her family learned of her kidnapping through a viral TikTok video discovered by her 12-year-old niece, which showed Yanai pleading for her life as her captors shouted in the background.

During her 54-day captivity, Yanai was moved between seven heavily guarded locations where she faced constant surveillance, limited access to food and water, and needed permission to use bathroom facilities. She revealed that her captors told her they "planned to move on and kill as much as they could and slaughter everybody," unaware that 3,000 people were present at the festival. Nearly 400 festival attendees were killed in the attack.

they brought a hostage to a debate https://t.co/VUJGWC55pL

— Aidan Doyle (@aidandoyleee) November 18, 2024

Yanai was released last November as part of a hostage exchange agreement. Despite the trauma she endured, she emphasized her desire for dialogue and understanding, telling Doyle, "I really want to hear your side, that's my agenda, of co-existing." Currently, 101 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

Following the debate, Doyle took to X (formerly known as Twitter) dismissively commenting on Yanai's presence, writing "They brought a hostage to a debate." Hassan Yousef later offered a scathing critique of Doyle's performance, saying mockingly, "He came really prepared. He memorized the narrative, even perfected it more than those who had been claiming it for 70 years. He knows a lot more than Yasser Arafat on Palestine."

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The 10-campus University of California (UC) system has announced new policies prohibiting encampments and face coverings used to conceal identity, as reported by The Guardian. This move comes in anticipation of potential pro-Palestinian protests similar to those that swept across US campuses earlier this year.

In a Monday announcement, UC President Michael Drake stated that these steps are being taken to "ensure a safe, inclusive campus climate that fosters a free exchange of ideas." Drake emphasized the importance of lawful protests, noting that some activities witnessed in the past year were not peaceful or nonviolent.

The 10-campus UC system experienced various demonstrations during the previous academic year, ranging from San Diego to Santa Cruz. At UCLA, protesters were reportedly attacked by masked individuals while law enforcement and campus security observed.

The university system faced criticism from multiple fronts, including those who argued it was allowing an unsafe environment for Jewish students and others who were frustrated by the treatment of protesters.

Drake's announcement clarified policies prohibiting unauthorized structures and the refusal to reveal one's identity to university personnel. He directed university leaders to enforce these rules strictly and consistently.

NEW: University of California President Michael Drake has directed the chancellors of all UC campuses to establish, publicize, and enforce rules against encampments, restricting the movement of others, and masking to hide one's identity: pic.twitter.com/cQphJjQRy1

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) August 19, 2024

 As the fall semester begins, student organizers are also preparing. At UCLA, the Palestine Solidarity Coalition spent the summer conducting workshops called the People's University for a Liberated Palestine. Marie Salem, a PhD student and media liaison for the coalition, said, "Students are also getting organized to spread education about divestment."

However, student efforts may be hindered by ongoing legal and academic disciplinary charges against over 200 students arrested during the clearance of UCLA's encampment in May. Most face misdemeanor charges, with the Los Angeles City Attorney's office receiving five referrals. At least 55 students also received letters from the university threatening to place holds on their academic records or withhold degrees.

Agnes, a recent UCLA graduate and member of Jewish Voice for Peace, expressed concern about these actions, stating to The Guardian, "These legal efforts of repression of specifically our movement set really dangerous precedents for the future."

Faculty members have also been involved with UCLA's Faculty for Justice in Palestine, supporting students with legal aid and monitoring university policies on encampments and policing. They filed an amicus brief opposing a lawsuit by three Jewish UCLA students that could limit campus protests.

On August 14, a US district judge ruled that UCLA cannot allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing campus facilities. The university has appealed this ruling, arguing that protesters, not the university, were responsible for any blockages.

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A federal court in California ruled on Wednesday that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) must not allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing various parts of the campus. This landmark decision represents the first instance of a judge ruling against pro-Palestinian demonstrators and requiring institutions to ensure access for Jewish and Zionist students.

In his pivotal ruling, Judge Mark Scarsi wrote, "In the year 2024, in the United States of America, in the State of California, in the City of Los Angeles, Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith."

Video: The LAPD removes pro-Palestinian protesters from the UCLA campus. Credit: Reuters

UCLA contended that it held no legal responsibility in the matter, arguing that it was the protesters, not the university, who prevented Jewish students from entering campus grounds. The institution also claimed to have collaborated with the Los Angeles Police Department in attempts to curb demonstrations. However, the judge ruled that the university is legally prohibited from utilizing classrooms and conducting classes on campus if Jewish students are unable to access the premises.

Yitzchok Frankel, a law student at UCLA and one of the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the university, marked the ruling with a modest celebration. "No student should ever have to fear being blocked from their campus because they are Jewish. I am grateful that the court has ordered UCLA to put a stop to this shameful anti-Jewish conduct," Frankel stated in a brief statement.

In response to the ruling, UCLA officials argued that it "would improperly hamstring our ability to respond to events on the ground and to meet the needs of the Bruin community."

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A federal judge has ordered the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to create a plan to protect Jewish students following pro-Palestinian protests that erupted on campus in recent months, the Associated Press reports.

This AP headline says it all.
It takes a court order to force UCLA to protect Jewish students.
Of course other minority groups get preferential treatment without command.
Why?
What could it be?
Let me take a wild guess:
Could it be...they don't like Jews?https://t.co/nHYzfLWUry

— Michael Shermer (@michaelshermer) July 30, 2024

 The ruling comes after three Jewish students sued UCLA in June, alleging discrimination amid demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war. Yitzchok Frankel, a UCLA law student, stated in the lawsuit that he declined an invitation from the director of student life to help host a lunch gathering due to safety concerns.

"Under ordinary circumstances, I would have leapt at the chance to participate in this event," Frankel said. "My Jewish identity and religion are integral to who I am, and I believe it is important to mentor incoming students and encourage them to be proud of their Judaism, too."

The lawsuit alleged discrimination during pro-Palestinian protests, which included the establishment of a "Jew-free zone." Frankel argued that UCLA failed to foster a safe environment for Jewish students on campus. The university has been directed to submit a proposed plan by next month, according to AP.

UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako responded to the ruling, stating, "We are committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding those who engaged in violence accountable, and combatting antisemitism in all forms." Osako added, "We have applied lessons learned from this spring's protests and continue to work to foster a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination, and harassment."

In a stunning reversal, Harvard has just implemented aggressive policies to combat antisemitism and has decided to…ban chalk. To thank the Harvard President for his visionary leadership and commitment to protecting Jewish students, please email president@harvard.edu pic.twitter.com/9moLvA6t6l

— Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) July 30, 2024

 The demonstrations at UCLA were part of a broader movement across US campuses protesting the Israel-Hamas war. In May, law enforcement ordered over a thousand protesters to dismantle their encampment as tensions escalated. Counter-demonstrators had attacked the encampment overnight, resulting in at least 15 protesters suffering injuries. Subsequently, in June, dozens of protesters were arrested after attempting to establish a new encampment on campus.

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