Faculty members of New York University have called on the institution to put an end on its investment in Israel and support the campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.

“The time has now come for NYU [New York University] to take action that by exerting financial and moral pressure can help end the Israeli occupation,” the members said in a petition that is signed by 120 faculty members at the university.

The professors are calling for an end to the university’s investments in Israeli corporations.

The controversial petition is also backed by the university’s students.

“There is a lot of human rights abuse in Israel. It’s an apartheid state. You know it’s a huge disappointment people are pushed out of their homes [in Palestine],” said David Huck.

The New York University administration, however, has rejected the appeal and many Jewish organizations on the campus have denounced the professors who signed on.

“I think the Americans are totally unaware of the horror of the situation that the Palestinians are experiencing every day,” Nicky Cochran told Press TV.

She said she hopes the growing academic movement against Israel can be effective.

Other universities in the city, such as Columbia University and Brooklyn College have had similar appeals from their faculty.

Human rights monitor Amnesty International has said that the Israeli regime committed war crimes during the latest war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Over 2,140 Palestinians, including a large number of women, children, and the elderly, were killed in the 50 days of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which began early in July 2014.

The BDS movement is a pro-Palestinian campaign in support of Palestinian unions.

It is set to increase economic and political pressure on Israel. The movement also seeks to end the Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands and respect the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

SB/AGB