Behind the scenes at Britain's university-organised pro-Palestine protests where students 'glorify Hamas'

The now-familiar sounds of pro-Palestine chants have been heard many times since the war in Gaza began, and the anniversary of the Hamas-led incursion on Israel in 2023, which left some 1,200 people dead in Israel and saw hundreds taken hostage, was no exception.

Demonstrations went ahead at higher learning institutions despite warnings from university leaders and politicians for students to think carefully about their actions.

Former Leeds alumni and commentator Connie Shaw told GB News she fears universities "are harbouring some people who are genuine Islamist terrorists".

Reacting to pro-Palestine events held on October 7, she said: "I saw explicitly glorification and celebration of the worst terrorist attack we have seen since 9/11."

"It concerns me that there are useful idiots for Islamists," Ms Shaw added.

At Sheffield University, around 100 people turned out for a protest on October 7, with organisers laughing in reaction to Sir Keir Starmer’s comments, where he branded the events "un-British" and as showing "little respect for others".

Organiser and computer science student Anton Parocki, of the Revolutionary Communist Party, said: "I think it’s quite funny. What does that mean?

"Are all these people here anti-British? Are all the millions of people that come out for Palestinian protests anti-British?

"Is it anti-British to go against a genocide? That seems like what he’s saying, which is quite funny."

The University of Glasgow's Justice for Palestine Society promoted its October 7 rally on Instagram, urging followers to "join us to honour our beloved resistance and martyrs".

The post added: "Whilst we commemorate two years of genocide with over 680,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed, we celebrate the glorious Al-Aqsa Flood which permanently crippled the zionist entity, putting it into a state of slow but inevitable collapse.

"We honour the resistance which has led the path for our people’s liberation, and fought tirelessly against the most technologically advanced army, yet remain steadfast and undefeated."

In a video seen by GB News, students who had gathered at the University of Glasgow covered their faces with keffiyeh-style garments, chanted "free, free the 48, we don’t want no two-state" and held banners which read "glory to our martyrs".

At the University of Leeds, meanwhile, its student union posted to social media the day before the October 7 anniversary to advertise a "celebrate Palestinian culture day".

Ms Shaw was suspended from hosting the University of Leeds radio show last year after voicing her view that "men can't be women".

Speaking to the People's Channel, the 21-year-old said: "At Glasgow Uni there were students holding a sign up saying 'glory to our martyrs' - to think I was almost expelled for calling 'a man and a man' and we basically have Islamists running around campus.

"The [Leeds] Student Union, as far as I'm aware, said nothing but held a celebration of Palestinian culture. They advertised it on October 6, but to commemorate October 7, they just put an Instagram story up, which disappeared in 24 hours.

"They didn't say anything about how horrific it was, they just put a tick in the box. It makes me so angry."

She added that seeing the messages "fills me with absolute rage" and that it made her "so ashamed of my alma mater".

Ms Shaw said while universities should "have a balance" in the events they hold, and called for a ban on protests at universities that affect the everyday lives of students.

The Prime Minister this week said universities should not be a place where Jewish students "fear to go", saying "we have to stamp that out".

Speaking during a visit to the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, he said: "Bridget [Phillipson], the Education Secretary, has already sent out very clear instructions to our universities because it should not be a place where Jewish students fear even to go, in some cases, not wanting to go to university, o have the education that they're entitled to.

"Or, if they do go, concerned about their identity and how they're going to be dealt with and reacted to.

"We have to stamp that out, and some universities have been too slow."

The Education Secretary last week wrote to vice-chancellors urging them to take "practical and proportionate steps" to protect Jewish students as part of Government efforts to stamp out antisemitism following the Manchester synagog terror attack.

Some 600 training sessions delivered by the Union of Jewish Students will be offered to university staff over the coming weeks to help them "identify harassment and hate" and facilitate "open, respectful debate", the Department for Education (DfE) said.

Thousands of teachers would be trained to teach young people how to "challenge misinformation online" through the £7million funding package, the Government says.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter