CNN fired contributor and Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill Thursday, following his speech at the United Nations in support of Palestinian rights. Lamont Hill’s comments sparked backlash among conservatives and pro-Israel groups, who singled out his use of the phrase “free Palestine from the river to the sea,” which they say is used by Hamas and anti-Israeli government groups.

Marc Lamont Hill: “So, as we stand here on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the tragic commemoration of the Nakba, we have an opportunity to not just offer solidarity in words, but to commit to political action, grassroots action, local action and international action, that will give us what justice requires—and that is a free Palestine, from the river to the sea.”

Lamont Hill defended his comments on Twitter yesterday after the news broke, writing, “I support Palestinian freedom. I support Palestinian self-determination. I am deeply critical of Israeli policy and practice. I do not support anti-Semitism, killing Jewish people, or any of the other things attributed to my speech. I have spent my life fighting these things.”