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The University of Southern California has closed an investigation triggered by student complaints against a Jewish professor who said during class, “Hamas are murderers.”

Economics professor John Strauss told pro-Palestinian activists in passing on November 9: “Hamas are murderers… That’s all they are. Every one of them should be killed, and I hope they are all killed.”

According to the Los Angeles TimesVideo of the exchange went viral on social media, and more than 10 students filed complaints against Strauss, who is of Jewish descent, accusing him of harassment, discrimination and creating an unsafe environment.

An investigation was immediately launched against Strauss, which ended on Tuesday when the school administration informed the professor that the investigation would be closed without disciplinary action.

(RELATED: USC suspends elderly Jewish professor who called Hamas ‘murderers’ who ‘should be killed’)

“I am relieved,” Strauss told the Los Angeles Times“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been completely exonerated and they’re not doing anything to punish me. And it’s over.”

His lawyer, Samantha Harris, said she was “frustrated that it has taken seven months to reach a clear conclusion.”

Amr Shabaik, legal director of CAIR-LA, who assisted some of the students with their complaints, told the newspaper he was disappointed that the complaints were dismissed.

“We are disappointed that USC found no wrongdoing despite the professor being caught on video going out of his way to harass and intimidate USC students who were honoring the lives of innocent Palestinians killed by Israel,” Shabaik said.

On November 20, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent a letter to USC demanding that the investigation be closed.

“FIRE is concerned about USC’s decision to require Professor John Strauss to teach remotely for the remainder of the semester in response to his comments to pro-Palestinian protesters last week. While his remarks may have been deeply offensive to some or even many listeners, they are protected by USC policy and therefore cannot serve as the basis for disciplinary action,” the organization wrote.

(RELATED: Lawyer for UC Berkeley arson suspect denounces ‘political investigation’, says his client was targeted because of his ‘belief in a free Palestine’)

FIRE program officer Jessie Appleby said Strauss’ speech was “clearly protected.”

“We are delighted that the complaints against Professor Strauss were ultimately dismissed and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. But USC’s actions – expelling a professor from campus and subjecting him to a 7-month investigation for clearly protected political speech – clearly violated its express obligation to protect faculty speech,” Appleby said.