A University of Oxford student has been arrested after being filmed allegedly chanting for Gaza to “put the Zios in the ground” during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred following the Palestine Coalition march on Saturday.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the individual — widely identified as Oxford student Samuel Williams — leading a chant that he claimed had been “workshopped in Oxford.”
In the video, he can be heard saying: “A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by… 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.’”
Police said the man was arrested at an address in Oxford and remains in custody. He has not been officially named by the force.
The University of Oxford confirmed a student’s arrest in the early hours of Wednesday, noting that it had not yet been informed of the details of the charges. It is understood that the student has been suspended pending investigation.
An Oxford spokesperson stated:“An Oxford University student was a rrested in the early hours of Wednesday, 15 October. The precise basis for the arrest has not yet been disclosed to the university. While the university cannot comment on individual student cases, it has the power to take immediate and proportionate action, including suspension, whenever serious concerns are raised.”
The statement continued: “Oxford University is unequivocal: there is no place for hatred, antisemitism, or discrimination within our community, and we will always act to protect the safety and dignity of our students.”
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of language used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Last week, the Prime Minister said the government was considering further restrictions on protest activity, including targeting certain chants heard at such rallies. Photo by Lies Thru a Lens , Wikimedia commons.
