Palestinian Activist's Triumph: Khalil Returns Amidst Political Controversy

Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, made a triumphant return to New Jersey's Newark International Airport on Saturday, after spending over three months in detention. Pushing his infant son in a stroller, Khalil was greeted by supporters while vowing to continue his protest against the US support of Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Arriving from a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana, Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, decried what he termed as genocide funded by the US government, while critiquing Columbia University's investments in similar conflicts. Despite the threat of further legal actions and his previous detention, Khalil affirmed his commitment to his cause and support for detained immigrants.

US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized his detention as a breach of the First Amendment, condemning the Trump administration's attempts to suppress dissenting political speech. A US District Judge had earlier ordered Khalil's release, citing the lack of violence in his actions and his status as a legal US resident. The government has announced plans to appeal this decision, continuing a contentious legal battle over free expression.

(With inputs from agencies.)