Over 100 masked anti-Israel protesters have taken over the Butler Library at Columbia University in New York City, after storming into the building and pushing past campus security as students prepare for finals.

Non-protesting students told Fox News that they were forced to stop studying for finals and leave the library.

The protesters are reportedly rallying in support of Mahmoud Khalil, the accused ringleader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, as well as other students.

Flyers posted show protesters have renamed the Butler Library “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” as well as the liberation zone.

Students and others demonstrate during a protest outside the gates to the Columbia University main campus  in New York City on April 21. (Reuters/Ryan Murphy)

Columbia said it values free expression and the right to protest, but such activities must be conducted in accordance with university rules and policies to ensure safety and allow academic and other campus activities to continue unimpeded.  

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik stepped down after months of criticism of her handling of the protests, many of which devolved into clashes between anti-Israel demonstrators and police, and antisemitism on campus. 

Columbia has come under intense scrutiny over the rise in antisemitism on campus, with Trump canceling $400 million in grants to the university in March. 

That led to Columbia caving to certain demands in an attempt to restore funding.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.