A group of pro-Palestine protesters stormed a London university lecture, hurling brutal insults and threatening to behead Professor Michael Ben-Gad, a Jewish Israeli academic. The Economics lecturer at City St George’s University was called a “war criminal” and a “Nazi” during the brazen attack.

Lecture Stormed as Protesters Refuse to Leave

Professor Ben-Gad revealed how masked agitators invaded his class despite increased security after the campus was plastered with leaflets calling him a “terrorist.” The mob threatened him directly in his classroom, with one protester ominously saying they would “chop off” his head.

“They came right up to my face and called me a war criminal and a Nazi. One of them made a threat about having my head chopped off,” Prof Ben-Gad told Sky News.

The professor, who served in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) over 40 years ago, has been targeted relentlessly for his heritage and military past — mandatory service that activists wildly portray as “war crimes.”

University Under Fire as Petition Calls for Firing

Activist group City Action for Palestine launched a petition demanding the immediate sacking of Prof Ben-Gad, accusing him of “murdering” Arab and Muslim people.

• The group demanded City St George’s apologise and reconsider its hiring policies.
• The campus was covered in leaflets labelling the professor a “terrorist” and slamming his decades-old IDF service.

Prof Ben-Gad blasted the extremist campaign: “No one is going to intimidate me.” He dismissed a university offer of paid leave, vowing to continue teaching despite the threats.

Hundreds of Academics Rally Behind Professor

Hundreds of scholars from top UK universities, including Oxford and Imperial College, spoke out in support of Prof Ben-Gad. They condemned the harassment as an assault on academic freedom and warned it endangered Jewish students nationwide.

“Academics and students have a right to work without harassment. These attacks set a dangerous precedent,” the statement said.

The university echoed its support, calling the attackers a “small group” engaged in “unlawful and repugnant” behaviour and pledging to protect staff and students.

Alarming Campus Antisemitism Highlights UK University Crisis

The brazen threats and violent intimidation reveal a worrying escalation of campus antisemitism. Academics serving mandatory military duty decades ago face vilification as extremists.

• Masked invaders crossing legal lines with no arrests reported.
• Libellous claims branding Israel a “genocidal society” stoke hatred.
• Pro-Palestine mobs weaponise “free speech” to silence Jews.

Professor Ben-Gad stands firm as an “unapologetic Israeli patriot,” refusing to yield to the hate campaign. Meanwhile, British universities grapple with balancing free expression and protecting minority academics from escalating threats.

As this troubling saga unfolds, it shines an unflinching light on the urgent need to tackle antisemitism and safeguard academic freedom across the UK.