Harvard student denounces anti-Israel open letter roiling campus

One of the Harvard students embroiled in the anti-Israel furor is now saying “terrorism is never justified” as he attempts to distance himself from the controversy.

Josh Willcox, the 22-year-old son of British perfume magnate Jo Malone, said he hasn’t been on the Cambridge campus and had nothing to do with the letter signed by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups, the New York Post first reported.

That letter, signed by 34 Harvard sub-committees, has set off a storm on campus that has brought condemnation from donors to alums alike, as the Herald has reported.

In his lone Instagram message, Willcox writes, “In contrast to the (Palestine Solidarity Groups’) open letter, I believe that anyone who inflicts violence on civilians is solely responsible for their actions. I therefore do not support the letter’s attribution of blame for (the Oct. 7) attacks to Israel. Terrorism is never justified under any circumstances.”

In the lone Instagram post, seen by the Herald, @jWillcox does qualify his statement by saying he has long advocated for “Palestinians living under an internationally recognized Occupation.”

His mother’s one-time brand also posted to Instagram on @jomalonelondon, stating in part, “please know we do not condone violence of any kind. At this time, we would like to clarify that Jo Malone the individual has not been affiliated with Jo Malone London brand since 2006. We continue to lead with kindness.”

That Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups’ open letter was posted just days after Hamas terrorists broke out of Gaza, slaughtering Israelis in their homes, at a concert rave and elsewhere. Wilcoxx, the Post adds, was an organizer of Harvard’s Palestine Solidarity Committee, one of the groups to sign the open letter.

Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.

Some linked to that letter have backed off while the fallout continues.