33 Winter 2026 Students from across UK universities reported physical attacks, including violence, being spat upon after leaving a Jewish religious event, being “chased by a man with a large glass bottle,” having rubbish thrown at them, being pelted by eggs after hearing the Chief Rabbi speak on campus, and having their Magen David (Star of David) necklaces grabbed from their necks. Students also reported an increase in verbal threats of violence. These included threats being made from passersby on the street and in cars, and even people known to the students.13 Interlocutors noted that they had reported these incidents to the police, to the CST,14 and/or to the university; some are still awaiting a satisfactory response.15 Verbal harassment was a significant theme, with many students giving examples of how this has been manifested. Some harassment was evidently deliberately targeted at students known to be Jewish. One student reported being “called a child murderer because I said I was Israeli.” Another said that “someone threatened to rape me and called me names because I was Jewish.” One student encountered protestors in his building who called him “a Zionist Nazi” as he tried to move past them. Others were opportunistic incidents aimed at students who were visibly Jewish, including antisemitic slurs when walking past encampments, “several occasions of complete strangers making antisemitic remarks (e.g. ‘you're a fucking pig’ etc.) in passing,” and someone saying “Heil Hitler” and giving a Nazi salute. This has also been reported in written communications, for example: “The encampment outside the union has placed slogans on the chalk including many classic antisemitic tropes and blood libels among other things.” The physical violence and verbal attacks were raised by those who reported feeling intimidated into not attending Jewish events, changing their routes across campus, and not wearing things that would identify them as Jewish. Students reported deliberately hiding their Jewish identity for fears of violence, intimidation or discrimination. Notably, this occurred in universities with small numbers of Jewish students. Others reported hiding their kippot (Jewish skullcaps) and tzitzit (religious fringes on clothing) and making sure no-one “outed” them as Jewish for fears of attacks. Respondents who hid their Jewish identity reported hearing antisemitic remarks and conversations amongst classmates who were unaware that there was a Jewish student listening to those conversations. Several complaints were submitted to senior university leaders about student organizations using campus spaces to glorify terrorism, call for violence, and vilify Israel. Posters on campuses such as Edinburgh and King’s College London called for intifada and glorified terrorism. Protests and demonstrations took place often, and in some cases members of staff appeared to support them. A student at the University of East Anglia reported that on the day of the October 7 terrorist attacks, the Student Union’s Campaigns and Democracy Officer posted material that celebrated the violence. The post remained online with no apology and no disciplinary action. Jewish students, particularly those who express support for Israel, experience regular harassment, intimidation, and exclusion.16 In all cases students reported that their universities failed to take any action. Many students insist that not enough had been done to combat antisemitism in teaching spaces − both physical and online − including social media groups specifically connected to their courses and fellow students. Concerns were raised about academics who focused excessively on Gaza or Palestine in their classes after October 7, even when this was obviously not relevant to the module. Some students reported hostility from academics when asking for extensions to work over religious festivals (when the rules of the religion forbid Jews to do any work), which had not occurred prior to October 7. Others raised concerns about antisemitic tropes from academics during lectures. Students were particularly concerned about how: “Zionism is substituted for Jew, very thinly veiled. The word Zionist or Zio is now used as a slur.” Another explained that “language that is ostensibly only antizionist could still be antisemitic, for example calling Zionists ‘rats’ or a ‘disease.’” WhatsApp groups related to university courses were described as being places where antisemitic content was not just tolerated but was 13. Unless otherwise indicated by citations, the incidents listed here can be found in the ICPG student survey report, supra note 12. 14. The Community Security Trust (CST) is a UK recognized charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats that works in coordination with the police. 15. “It has led to me receiving threats that I would be physically hurt if I am seen at campus. I have not attended… campus and am taking a year out for my safety. I reported it via the student discipline process 1.5 months ago but have not had a response, even after sending multiple follow up emails asking for updates.” ICPG student survey report, supra note 12. 16. StandWithUs UK, supra note 12, at 16.
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