A University of Oxford student has been arrested after allegedly leading a chant at a pro-Palestinian march calling for Gaza to “put the Zios in the ground”.
The Metropolitan Police said a 20-year-old man was detained on suspicion of inciting racial hatred following a demonstration by the Palestine Coalition in central London on Saturday 11th October.
Footage circulating online appeared to show a man addressing demonstrators, saying the chant had been “workshopped” in Oxford before leading it.
The man was arrested at an address in Oxford in the early hours of Wednesday and remains in custody, police confirmed.
The University of Oxford said it was aware a student had been arrested but had not yet been informed of the reasons. It is understood the student has been suspended.
In the footage, the man is heard telling the crowd: “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.’”
A university spokesperson said: “An Oxford University student was arrested 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 suspending a student whenever serious concerns are raised. 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 incident comes amid heightened tensions around protests linked to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week the government could consider tightening protest laws, including restrictions on chants used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The case has drawn comparisons to previous controversies involving protest slogans, including the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The slogan, which refers to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, has been used by groups with differing intentions since the 1960s. Some view it as a call for a democratic state for both Israelis and Palestinians, while others interpret it as denying Israel’s right to exist.
In 2023, Labour MP Andy McDonald was suspended from the party after saying: “We won’t rest until we have justice, until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea can live in peaceful liberty.”
Supporters of McDonald said his remarks were inclusive, but critics, including then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman, said such language was “widely understood as a demand for the destruction of Israel.”
Debate over protest language has intensified since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,400 people in Israel. The subsequent conflict in Gaza has led to tens of thousands of deaths, with protests and counter-protests taking place across the UK.
Campaigners argue that limiting speech at demonstrations risks curbing legitimate political expression, while others say inflammatory or violent rhetoric can fuel division and antisemitism.
Police have faced increasing scrutiny over their handling of protests, particularly around chants and slogans considered hateful. The Metropolitan Police have said they are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to assess potential hate crime offences.
As the Oxford investigation continues, both the university and police say they are monitoring safety concerns and rising tensions linked to the conflict overseas.
