Several students were blocked from attending a University College London (UCL) event on Jewish history after an anti-Israel mob “besieged a campus building”.
A group of activists wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags stormed the building last Friday afternoon, chanting “Zionism off campus” and “Crush the Zionist settler state”.
Masked demonstrators gathered in the entryway of the venue, shouting “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” and preventing several students from entering the event, where an Israeli guest was speaking.
UCL’s president issued an apology to affected students following a police intervention at the scene.
The demonstration came days after anti-Israel protesters “invaded” a lecture at City St George’s University, where Economics Professor Michael Ben-Gad was branded a “terrorist” over his service in the IDF.
UCL president and provost Dr Michael Spence said he was “utterly appalled by reports of antisemitic comments and chants during the protest”.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that protestors obstructed access to a scheduled UCL event, causing distress to those attending, and seeking to suppress the views and opinions of the invited speaker and audience.
“As part of our ongoing liaison with the Police, local officers attended. I sincerely apologise that this happened at UCL and to those affected,” Dr Spence told the JC.
Kurt Schwartz, CEO of CAMERA, whose UK Campus branch co-hosted Friday’s event, said: “It is horrifying that some students were blocked or scared away from attending the event we co-hosted, and that a heavy police presence was required for those who attended and were faced with protesters that called for Israel’s destruction and demanded ‘Zionism off Campus’.
“Being a Zionist simply means you support the self-determination of the Jewish people in their historic homeland. Would these protestors demand that students of any other cultural background be hounded ‘off campus’ for believing their country ought to exist? It is highly alarming that protests that incite violence towards Jews and Israel are becoming so commonplace on and off university campuses.
“It is even more heartbreaking that an event in which historic anti-Jewish persecution was discussed was met with the very same hatred in 2025.”
“We are immensely proud of our British colleagues and UCL students for arranging this event amidst a dangerous climate of hostility and hatred towards Jews and Israel since the October 7 massacre more than two years ago,” Schwartz said.
(Read the Jewish Chronicle’s full Oct. 29th 2025 coverage here)