An Oxford student has been filmed chanting ‘horrifying’ anti-Israeli lyrics to crowds in London, prompting a police investigation.
The vile chant, made during a pro-Palestinian rally at the weekend, included the phrase ‘put the Zios in the ground’ – an offensive reference to Zionists.
The young man said the chant had been ‘workshopped in Oxford’ and said it was part of a ‘steadfast and noble resistance’ to events in Gaza.
Last night, police confirmed they are investigating the chants, while Oxford University said it ‘condemned’ them ‘in the strongest possible terms’.
In a video posted to social media, the man, wearing a keffiyeh, encourages crowds to ‘join in’ and shouts: ‘Gaza Gaza, make us proud, put the Zios in the ground.’
He and others then repeat the chant several times.
The protest, in central London on October 11, was organised by the Palestine Coalition, with tens of thousands taking part.
He and others then proceed to repeat the chant several times.
An Oxford student (pictured) has been filmed chanting ‘horrifying’ anti-Israeli lyrics to crowds in London, prompting a police investigation
It happened just a day after the ceasefire came into force on Friday, with Israel’s military pulling out of parts of Gaza.
Last night, the Union of Jewish Students said it was ‘horrified’ by the footage.
They added: ‘This violent rhetoric is unacceptable, with students calling for murder and employing a slur (“Zio”) coined by David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the KKK.
‘Against the backdrop of rampant glorification of Hamas terrorism on campus this week, we call on universities to urgently take a stand against the endorsement of violence.
‘We are in contact with the University of Oxford and urge them to act decisively in response to this deeply troubling incident.’
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers are investigating chants made at the demonstration in central London on Saturday, 11 October.
‘Enquiries are ongoing.’
The student has previously been pictured in videos shared by the Oxford Students Palestine Society.
The video has caused anger online, with one X user tagging Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson saying: ‘Calling for the death of all Israelis and Jews.
‘Is that enough for you..I’m sure the Jewish students must be terrified listening to this lot.
‘Time for action.’
Last night, an Oxford spokesman said: ‘The University of Oxford condemns, in the strongest possible terms, any language urging violence against groups of people or expressing any form of racial hatred.
‘The university’s support for freedom of speech does not extend to any statements including such language.
‘When such language is reported, we will always want to speak to the student concerned, and consider the matter under our disciplinary procedures in line with university and college policies.
‘Oxford is unequivocal: there is no place for anti-Semitism, harassment, or discrimination within our community. We remain firmly committed to protecting the safety and dignity of all our students and staff.’
Oxford said it has taken a number of steps in recent months to tackle anti-Semitism, including delivering training on the topic to students’ union sabbatical officers and to students across 24 colleges.
The spokesman added: ‘We will continue to build on this work, including through expanded training for student leaders and frontline staff, and regular engagement with the Jewish Society, the Jewish Chaplaincy and national partners such as the Community Security Trust.’
It comes after thousands of students were branded ‘abhorrent’ last week after joining pro-Palestine marches across the country to mark the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
The ‘remembrance and resistance’ demonstrations were deliberately held on October 7th, the same day that in 2023 saw the biggest single loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.
Hamas killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages.
Laughing off pleas from Mrs Phillipson to ‘show some humanity’, the protesters flooded dozens of university campuses, chanting and waving placards.
One particularly offensive event at Glasgow University urged students to ‘celebrate’ the October 7th attacks, with protesters holding a banner reading: ‘Glory to our martyrs’.
