Why have Columbia students renamed the college hall they occupied Hinds Hall?

Students protesting Israel’s war in Gaza have occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, an academic building that is home to the school's undergraduate Columbia College and the Dean’s office.

After moving through the building, student protesters unfurled a banner over Hamilton Hall's fascade. The banner read «Hinds Hall”.

The unofficial renaming pays tribute to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl Palestinian girl who — along with her family and the EMTs who tried to save her — was killed by Israeli tanks.

The little girl had phoned emergency services and, over a period of more than three hours, begged for help after her family were killed around her in the car they were using to try to escape the war zone. Paramedics did arrive – but days later their ambulance was found destroyed near Hind’s family’s car. Two emergency workers were found dead.

Hind’s death has become a symbol of the human cost of the Israel-Hamas war.

As Columbia students continue to demonstrate despite threats of suspension and expulsion from the university, Hind's name adorning the building serves as a reminder of the point behind the protest.

Hind was with family members – her aunt, uncle, and her three cousins – racing in their family car to outrun Israeli tanks and escape the city in late January.

Israeli tanks are believed to have fired at the car, killing all of Hind's relatives, but leaving her alive. She called out to emergency services for help from a cellphone, but her call ended abruptly, according to the BBC.

Nearly two weeks later, her relatives found the bodies of Hind, her family, and a pair of Palestine Red Crescent Society EMTs among the rubble and wreckage near the spot where they were killed.

The family's black Kia was blown