The U.S. Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the University of California system to determine if it allowed a hostile environment toward Jews on any of its 10 campuses during protests last year.

The Justice Department on Wednesday announced it is investigating the University of California system over allegations of antisemitism in the wake of protests that broke out on several campuses over the war between Israel and Hamas.

The department has launched an investigation of the University of California, saying there could be a 'potential pattern' of discrimination against Jewish employees.