LONDON – A University of Oxford student has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after he was filmed leading a crowd in an antisemitic chant during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London. The chant, which urged protesters to “put the Zios in the ground,” drew widespread outrage and prompted the university to suspend the student pending investigation.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 20-year-old man, identified by local media as Samuel Williams, was detained early on October 15 at an address in Oxfordshire. Authorities said the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into inflammatory language used during a Palestine Coalition rally held four days earlier in London.
In widely circulated videos, Williams, reported to be a philosophy, politics, and economics student at Balliol College, can be seen addressing demonstrators. Before leading the chant, he tells the crowd that it was “workshopped in Oxford,” then calls out, “Gaza, Gaza, make us proud, put the Zios in the ground”.
Oxford student: "A chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford…“Gaza, Gaza, make us proud, put the Zios in the ground.”
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) October 12, 2025
Universities are riddled with these indoctrinated lot.
Likely the future leaders and "academics" of the future.
pic.twitter.com/ywiAhmVJDw
The University of Oxford confirmed that a student had been arrested and said it had taken “immediate and appropriate measures,” including suspension. “Oxford University is unequivocal: there is no place for hatred, antisemitism or discrimination within our community,” a spokesperson said. “We act at all times to protect the safety and dignity of our students”.
The arrest has triggered strong reactions across the United Kingdom, with Jewish organizations and government officials condemning both the chant and the rising acceptance of antisemitic rhetoric under the guise of political expression. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called the incident “a disgraceful display of incitement” and welcomed the police action, stressing that such language “clearly crosses the line between free speech and criminal hate”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that authorities must ensure Britain remains a country “where hate speech of any kind is not tolerated,” particularly at its educational institutions. He also reiterated his government’s intention to examine protest regulations to address “chants and expressions that incite violence or hatred”.
In the days following the arrest, several anti-Israel groups defended the chant, claiming it expressed “solidarity with Palestinian resistance,” an argument rejected by mainstream political and Jewish organizations, who warned such rhetoric dehumanizes Jews and normalizes hostility toward supporters of Israel.
Jewish community leaders said the case illustrates a dangerous pattern of radicalization on campuses, where anti-Israel activism has increasingly blurred into open antisemitism. “Calls for violence against Zionists are calls for violence against Jews,” said a spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews. “We expect firm disciplinary and legal measures to signal that such hate has no place in a university or a democracy.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the suspect remains under investigation while evidence, including video footage and witness testimony, is reviewed by prosecutors. The maximum sentence for incitement to racial hatred under the UK Public Order Act can include fines and imprisonment.
The university has pledged to cooperate fully with law enforcement and to continue its internal disciplinary review. Jewish student organizations on campus have increased security coordination and urged colleges to adopt zero-tolerance approaches toward antisemitic rhetoric.
The viral video has become a national flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the limits of protest speech amid tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Analysts warn that slogans calling for the death of “Zionists” or “Zios” often serve as coded attacks on Jews, contributing to a climate of fear among students and Jewish communities.
This article is based on verified information from BBC, Sky News, The Telegraph, The Jerusalem Post, and The Jewish Post & News.
Finally, steps in the right direction. Well overdue but glad it’s being done!