StandWithUs UK Voice of Students 2024/25 Report

7 May 2025

StandWithUs UK Warns: Anti-Zionism Now the Leading Driver of Campus Antisemitism

StandWithUsUK today unveiled its comprehensive "Voice of Students 2024/25" report, exposing a shocking pattern of antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and institutional neglect at universities across Britain since the October 7 Hamas massacre. Drawing directly from multiple student testimonies, this report paints a damning picture of how British universities have enabled a culture of hate against Jewish and Zionist-identifying students and expressions of support for violence and banned terror groups.

The report has been endorsed by eight cross-party British parliamentarians, who stated in their joint letter of support: "We implore readers and policymakers to urgently consider the vital recommendations made at the end of this report. The situation is grave, but this timely report offers a path to a better future for all."

StandWithUsUK’s findings are published ahead of an important debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday, where this issue is expected to take centre stage.

The report leaves no room for doubt: anti-Zionism has become the primary catalyst for antisemitism on campus. Efforts to surgically separate anti-Zionism from antisemitism are not only intellectually dishonest but dangerously irresponsible. These two expressions of hate are inextricably linked. Attempts to draw false distinctions create a "no man’s land" where harassment and violence against Jewish students flourish without consequence.

“Universities continue to pretend that attacks on Zionist students are somehow different, somehow acceptable. This moral evasion abandons Jewish students to fear, intimidation, and isolation,” said Isaac Zarfati, Executive Director of StandWithUs UK.

Voice of Students boldly elevates the voices most often silenced: those of Jewish and Zionist students whose realities have been largely ignored, rejected, or explained away by university administrators. Students reported being doxed, threatened, and even physically attacked, while universities frequently responded with indifference or worse, putting responsibility on the victims for speaking out.

One student, after being verbally abused by fellow students whilst mourning the October 7 massacre victims, was advised by her university's wellbeing officer to “try to understand the other side.” Another received a chilling administrative reply: “There are no further steps or actions related to this matter.”

StandWithUsUK calls for full recognition that anti-Zionism, when directed at Jewish students, constitutes antisemitism. A government-backed public inquiry should be launched to investigate the systemic failures that have allowed antisemitism to persist and escalate within UK universities. This inquiry should gather testimony from Jewish students, review university procedures, assess the role of student unions, and recommend national standards to ensure student safety and institutional accountability.

“This is not only a Jewish issue. It is a British issue. A societal issue. When universities normalise intimidation, glorification of terror, and ideological coercion, they endanger the freedoms of every minority community,” said René Anisfeld, Chair of StandWithUs UK.

The time for vague statements and empty seminars is over.

Universities must act—or be held to account

📺 Watch this short and powerful video: During a debate in Parliament at the House of Lords, peers from across the political spectrum repeatedly cited our Voice of Students report — published just this Wednesday — as an instrumental part in tackling the surge of campus antisemitism following Hamas’ 7/10 terror attacks.

Go back to StandWithUs UK News

About StandWithUs UK:

StandWithUs is an international, non-profit and non-partisan Israel education organisation that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism. Founded in 2010, StandWithUs UK has become a recognised support system and leading resource for students on UK campuses. We empower and energise students and communities with leadership training and educational programmes on both school and university campuses. StandWithUs informs through social media, printed materials, digital platforms, film and newsletters. The StandWithUs flagship Emerson Fellowship programme seeks to raise students into future leaders, equipped to stand strong in the face of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. We believe in the right of the Jewish People to self-determination in their historic homeland of Israel. We educate the facts in an unbiased and holistic manner, with an open mind, reflecting on views from all sides of the political, social and humanitarian spectrum whilst promoting peace. StandWithUs UK believe the current discourse surrounding Israel on campus all too often crosses the line between legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies and the dangerous, mainstream, antisemitic rhetoric which stands contrary to the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We work to educate on that distinction, encourage civil discourse on legitimate criticism of Israel, and to fight antisemitism wherever it emerges.