Columbia University has granted two extensions to the deadline for students to vacate their campus encampments in opposition to Israel's war on Gaza. The university justifies this action by stating that negotiations with the protesters have made progress, which is intended to defuse the tense impasse that has spread throughout universities in the United States. "We are making significant progress with student encampment representatives on the West lawn," Columbia said in a statement issued shortly after 3 a.m. (07:00 GMT) on Wednesday.