A student at Oxford University who was filmed chanting ‘put the Zios in the ground’ at a pro-Palestine protest has been suspended.
The university is understood to have taken the action after the Daily Mail named Samual Williams as the student leading the vile anti-Israeli chants.
‘Zio’ is an offensive reference to Zionists, and some have interpreted the words as calling for death to Jews.
The suspension will continue while the university conducts an investigation.
Mr Williams, a philosophy, politics and economics student at Balliol College, will is also under investigation by the Metropolitan Police over the incident.
The chants were filmed last Saturday in central London, the day after the ceasefire came into effect in Gaza.
Speaking through a microphone at the march, Mr Williams told the crowd: ‘A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by and – I don’t want to yap for too long – but a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.
‘It goes “Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground”.’
Samuel Williams, whose family home is in a middle class area in Tunbridge Wells, led the offensive chants while attending the PSC National Demonstration for Palestine in London on Saturday October 11
Mr Williams was among dozens of students who occupied and camped outside the Oxford Natural History museum to protest their university’s alleged complicity in Israel’s war against Hamas
It is understood ministers have also made contact with Oxford following the incident and have reiterated calls zero tolerance of anti-Semitism.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, said last week that there had been an “’nacceptable increase in anti-Semitism’ at universities and added that many Jewish students did not feel safe on campus.
She called on universities to strengthen protections for Jewish students and said the Government was funding training to help staff and students ‘tackle this poison of anti-Semitism’.
It is unclear whether Mr Williams, from Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, will be expelled from the university if the police investigation finds that he committed a criminal offence.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers are investigating chants made at the demonstration in central London on Saturday Oct 11.’
Other online footage from the rally showed Mr Williams near the front of a group of protesters who were holding signs bearing messages including ‘Oxford University pick a side, justice or genocide’.
A spokesman for the university 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.
A spokesman for the Union of Jewish students said: ‘We are horrified by the footage of a University of Oxford student chanting to “put the Zios in the ground”
Pictures from Samuel Williams’s Instagram account show him regularly sporting a red and white keffiyeh scarf.
‘Zio’ – a term formed by Grand Wizard of the KKK David Duke – is a slur made by shortening the word ‘Zionist’ and is often directed towards Jewish people
Mr Williams, who attends Oxford, was one of a number of University students to have attended the pro-Palestine event which took place this weekend in Victoria Embankment
‘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.’
It comes after the Daily Mail found Mr Williams, whose family home is in a middle class area in Tunbridge Wells, is a veteran pro-Palestine protester.
Before winning a coveted place at Oxford, Mr Williams attended the Bennett Memorial Diocesan school in Tunbridge Wells.
Pictures from Samuel Williams’s Instagram account show him regularly sporting a red and white keffiyeh scarf.
A keffiyeh is a type of Arabic accessory which has recently become associated with the pro-Palestine movement.
And since joining the university he has dedicated his life not to his studies but to student activism and Palestine.
Several pictures taken from his Instagram account show Mr Williams’s participating in the highly controversial Oxford University student encampments.
Mr Williams was among dozens of students who occupied and camped outside the Oxford Natural History museum to protest against their university’s alleged complicity in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Another social media post captioned ‘f*** your exams 2024, anti-colonial action’ includes a picture of Mr Williams and a female friend participating in a pro-Palestine protest.
Responding to our findings, a spokesman for the Union of Jewish students said earlier this week: ‘We are horrified by the footage of a University of Oxford student chanting to “put the Zios in the ground”.
‘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.’
‘Zio’ – a term formed by Grand Wizard of the KKK David Duke – is a slur made by shortening the word ‘Zionist’ and is often directed towards Jewish people.
