SYDNEY – The University of Sydney has suspended a staff member following widespread outrage over a video showing Jewish students and a Jewish academic being subjected to antisemitic harassment during a Sukkot celebration organized by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) on campus. The incident, filmed and circulated widely, has sparked condemnation from university leaders, Jewish advocacy organizations, and political figures, intensifying calls for stronger measures to address campus antisemitism.
The confrontation occurred on Gadigal Green as students gathered to participate in the annual Jewish festival of Sukkot. According to witnesses and video footage, the staff member, reportedly of Palestinian Arab background, approached the group unprovoked and unleashed a tirade of antisemitic invective, including slurs such as โfilthy parasites,โ โbaby killers,โ and remarks questioning the Jewish peopleโs Semitic origins. Witnesses noted there were no Israeli flags or political symbols present, only religious observance for the Jewish holiday. Jewish academic Dr. Sarah Aamidor confirmed that both her and her studentsโ presence at the Sukkah was solely to celebrate the festival.
The woman identified herself as an โIndigenous Palestinianโ and repeatedly hurled offensive rhetoric, including the medieval blood libel against Jews and Nazi-style dehumanizing language. Security personnel intervened as the abuse escalated, with the staff member refusing to leave and continuing to film the group. According to the transcript, she shouted, โA Zionist is the lowest form of rubbish. Zionists are the most disgusting thing that has ever walked this earthโฆ Look at this rubbish, look at these parasitesโ.
This appalling video shows a Jewish academic and Jewish students at the University of Sydney being harassed by someone apparently of palestinian Arab extraction. The students were celebrating a Sukkot event organized by @AUJS, and there were no Israeli flags nor even hostageโฆ pic.twitter.com/u7LJ2OxUCZ
— ๐๏ธ David Lange (@Israellycool) October 9, 2025
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott issued a personal apology to the affected Jewish students and staff, stating, โI am very upset with what I have seenโฆ Civility is at the core of our values here. That display was distressing to watch and distressing for those who were there, I am sure. We have suspended the staff member tonight, reached out to the staff and students involved, and will review further. Please accept my apologies for what should have been a peaceful afternoonโ.
The university described the behavior as โdisturbing and appalling,โ confirming that support has been offered to affected students. Officials referred the incident to New South Wales Police for further investigation.
Jewish leaders condemned the attack. Simone Abel, legal director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, remarked, โThis is the real face of antisemitism in Australia today. It hides behind an anti-Zionist mask. This woman aimed to intimidate, threaten, offend, and humiliate a Jewish academic just because she was Jewish. She also used the blood libel โฆโ.
AUJS and Rabbi Eli Feldman, the campus Jewish chaplain, shared that the event had been intended as a celebration of faith and cross-community understanding, with both Jews and non-Jews participating before the disruption. โIt was meant to be a joyful celebration of community,โ Rabbi Feldman said. โIt should never have turned into an attack on Jewish identityโ.
The incident has reignited deep concerns about antisemitism on Australian university campuses and the unwillingness of institutions to respond firmly to hate speech and harassment. Jewish students have reported a sharp rise in threats and hostility following recent tensions in the Middle East and say they feel increasingly unsafe expressing Jewish identity on campus.
Calls for clear consequences when hate speech crosses into harassment have grown, with several Jewish advocacy organizations pressing for swift investigations, public condemnation, and lasting policy reforms. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry and AUJS continue to advocate for a safe academic environment for Jewish students and staff.
University officials pledged to review campus conduct policies, support affected communities, and consult Jewish leaders on next steps. The suspension of the perpetrator was described as โimmediate,โ with a commitment to further action following the outcome of police and internal investigations.
Jewish advocacy groups and campus leaders urge university administrators nationwide to address antisemitism with zero tolerance, emphasizing that faith celebrations must not be turned into platforms for hate. The University of Sydney incident stands as a troubling reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Jewish students and academics in Australia.
This article is based on verified information from JFeed, Israel National News, Yahoo News Australia, J-Wire, official statements from the University of Sydney, AUJS, and the attached video transcript.