Student Reportedly Threatens Professor’s Life During Class

University Lecture Disrupted by Protests

Michael Ben-Gadd, a professor at City St. George’s, University of London, described an unsettling experience during a lecture last Wednesday. Pro-Palestinian students interrupted his teaching, calling for his dismissal and making threatening demands.

Ben-Gadd shared that the protesters accused him of being a terrorist, citing his service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the 1980s. He noted that tensions escalated coinciding with the onset of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and he felt their criticisms were rooted in reasons beyond his military background. “The other accusations against me include my education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, my time teaching at the University of Haifa, and my role at Israel’s central bank,” he explained. Essentially, it seems they believe being Jewish in the Middle East is, somehow, a crime,” he reflected, wondering what that perception might imply for other Jewish individuals living elsewhere.

During the same interview, he mentioned that similar protests disrupted another one of his economics lectures. “Just an hour ago, I finished lecturing, and the protesters approached me, shouting accusations of being a war criminal and a Nazi right in my face. They refused to back down, and one of them even threatened me directly,” he recounted, noting their masked identities.

A video from City Action for Palestine captures the demonstrators calling him a terrorist and demanding his removal. Another video shows more activists accusing him of harming innocents while chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Despite the chaos, Ben-Gadd expressed his commitment to his role. “I intend to continue with my lectures. My students deserve more than this,” he asserted. After almost two decades of teaching at the university, he pointed out that his background has always been transparent, and he emphasized the generally respectful nature of the student body, contrasting it with a small radical faction disrupting his classes.

In support of Ben-Gadd, over 1,200 scholars signed a letter that condemns targeting any individual based on their background in the context of the ongoing conflict. The university reiterated its commitment to free expression while denouncing harassment. “City St. George’s is dedicated to safeguarding all staff and students, including Michael, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds,” they confirmed in a statement.