Gaza activists walk out on Jerry Seinfeld’s Duke commencement speech

Video footage captured the moment students left the ceremony and chanted "Free Palestine" as they exited. Among those walking out, some were seen holding Palestinian flags as they made their way through the aisle of graduating students.

Protesters were met with both cheers and boos from the audience as the commencement ceremony continued.

The comedian's commencement speech largely shied away from political topics, instead focusing on the students, making jokes, and the honorary degree that Seinfeld was awarded by the university.

“I grew up a Jewish boy from New York,” Seinfeld said. “That is a privilege if you want to be a comedian.”

Seinfeld has been a vocal advocate for Israel, particularly since Hamas's attack on Israeli civilians on October 7. The comedian visited Israel last December and had an “emotional” meeting with the Israeli hostages who had been recently freed by Hamas after being held captive in Gaza, according to Fox News.

"Every Jewish person I know was surprised by how hostile the reaction was," Seinfeld said after he was publicly criticized for his visit to Israel.

The protest comes as students and outside activists have set up Gaza camps on college campuses across the nation and anti-Israel student protesters continue to accuse the Jewish state of “genocide” and demand that their universities divest funds from Israel.