A new report has exposed a surge in antisemitic abuse at UK universities following the Hamas attacks on 7 October, leaving many Jewish students feeling threatened, silenced, and unsupported
by their institutions.
The Voice of Students report, released by the charity StandWithUs UK, features over 30 anonymised accounts from students at universities including King’s College London, UCL, St Andrews, and Manchester. Students report facing online doxxing, physical threats, and intimidation in academic settings and at vigils. Some were advised by university wellbeing staff to “understand the other side” when reporting abuse, while others faced disciplinary action for speaking out.
At the University of Exeter, a student recalled a peer saying, “If I was a Palestinian, I would join Hamas.” At Manchester, a student who condemned celebrations of the Hamas attacks received death threats and had her personal details—including her address—posted online.
One St Andrews student said her flatmate threw her Jewish belongings on the floor, declaring, “This flat will not support an inhumane government.”
The report also cites a survey of 1,000 students, revealing:
- 64% did not recognize the 7 October attacks as terrorism
- 29% viewed the massacre as “an understandable act of resistance”
- Nearly 40% believed pro-Israel students should expect abuse on campus
The report accuses universities of failing to take proper action against antisemitism and warns that anti-Zionism is increasingly being used as a socially accepted disguise for hatred against Jews. Students have reportedly been told to hide Israeli symbols, stop speaking Hebrew, and stay silent for their own safety.
Supported by eight cross-party parliamentarians, including Lord Austin, Baroness Deech, and Bob Blackman MP, the report urges:
-Sanctions for institutions that ignore antisemitism
- A public inquiry into campus extremism
- Mandatory reporting of hate incidents
- Expulsion of those who incite hate or glorify terrorism
A House of Lords debate on the matter is scheduled for this evening. StandWithUs UK has called the situation an “urgent crisis,” demanding immediate steps to ensure the safety and dignity of Jewish students across the UK.