Auburn basketball coach pushes back against 'disturbing' anti-Israel protests: 'Breaks my heart'

Jewish-American basketball coach Bruce Pearl tells 'FOX & Friends First' about his charity event organized to support Israeli children and soldiers.

One of college basketball's top coaches is doing what he can to support Israeli soldiers and civilians rattled by the ongoing war against Hamas, helping organize a charity event to pack humanitarian aid boxes full of clothes, first aid items, toiletries and candy after raising over $7,000 to prepare.

"It just breaks my heart to see students across our country protesting against Israel after they saw the genocide. I love this country, and I'm grateful for its support," Bruce Pearl told FOX News on Wednesday. 

Pearl, who coaches the Auburn Tigers, said some Jewish students on the university's campus are afraid as tensions concerning the conflict in the Middle East flare across U.S. college campuses. 

GOP LAWMAKER TARGETS PRO-HAMAS PROTESTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, DEPT OF EDUCATION: ‘DEEP ROT OF ANTISEMITISM’

Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers is seen during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jewish himself, he has been outspoken in support of Israel and expressed concerns about antisemitism surging in the days since Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israeli residential areas on Oct. 7.

Shortly after the attacks, he put his mind to making a difference.

"I contacted my friends at Athletes for Israel, the Church of the Highlands here in this community, along with our Jewish student group, Hillel. We got together and said, 'Let's do something positive. Let's get some humanitarian boxes together of