The event held on Monday, framed as an academic discussion and book launch, drew criticism from Jewish students and advocacy groups, who said it crossed a line by presenting Hamas in an academic setting.
(Video: Yaron Brener)
“I was terrified,” said Isaac Grand, an LSE student who participated in the protest. “What’s happening on campuses across the UK is shocking. We’ve seen similar events at King’s College London and UCL where academics have promoted Hamas without consequences.”
The event was hosted by LSE professors, which Isaac Zarfati, executive director of Stand With Us UK, said was particularly troubling.
“We usually see these kinds of events organized by anti-Israel student groups, but this came from LSE faculty, giving it an air of legitimacy,” he said. “It wasn’t an academic discussion — it was an attempt to whitewash Hamas’ history.”
Protest and counterprotest
In response, pro-Israel students gathered outside the event, accusing LSE of allowing an event that sought to make Hamas’ actions more acceptable to Western audiences.
“We weren’t just protesting the event itself — we were protesting the university for allowing this,” Grand said.
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The demonstration was met by a group of pro-Palestinian counterprotesters, some of whom Grand said openly expressed support for Hamas. He also noted that some individuals directed an “inverted triangle” hand gesture at Jewish students, which he described as the “21st-century equivalent of the Nazi salute.”
Zarfati said Stand With Us UK had launched a campaign ahead of the event, urging members of the Jewish community and the British public to contact LSE professors in protest. Despite the pressure, the university proceeded with the event.
“The fact that they went ahead with it anyway shows how much support they have from their fellow academics and pro-Palestinian student groups,” Zarfati said.
Concerns beyond antisemitism
Grand noted that opposition to the event was not limited to Jewish students.
“There were Christians, LGBTQ individuals and people from Azerbaijan and Canada at our protest,” he said. “This isn’t just about antisemitism anymore; it’s a counterterrorism issue. Why are people promoting Hamas at the highest levels of British institutions?”
Zarfati warned that such events highlight a growing problem for Israel and its supporters.
“This is no longer just an advocacy issue,” he said. “It’s a national security issue because today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders. If Israel wants to maintain its standing in the world, it needs to address this strategically.”