A student from Oxford University has indicated he will plead not guilty to a public order offence after being caught on camera allegedly making anti-Semitic chants during a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London.
Court Appearance and Bail Conditions
Samuel Williams, aged 20, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon charged with stirring up racial hatred at a Palestine Coalition demonstration in Whitehall on Saturday, October 11. The philosophy, politics and economics student from Balliol College did not formally enter a plea but indicated through his legal representation that he will state he is not guilty at a further hearing.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram released Williams on conditional bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on February 24. As part of his bail conditions, Williams was explicitly told he is not allowed to participate in any Palestine-related protests within the M25 area or in Oxford.
Alleged Incident and Investigation
The alleged incident occurred during a pro-Palestine march where Williams, speaking through a microphone, reportedly told the crowd: 'A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by and – I don't want to yap for too long – but 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".'
The term 'Zio' is widely recognised as an offensive reference to Zionists, with many interpreting the chant as calling for death to Jewish people. Williams was identified by the Daily Mail following their investigation into the incident.
Scotland Yard detectives launched an investigation which led to Williams's arrest at a property in Oxfordshire on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. The university has since suspended the student pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
Background and Community Reaction
Before securing his place at Oxford University, Williams attended Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells, which holds an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating. Former classmates remember him as a high-achieving student who came 'top in almost everything' during his school years.
The school is located close to the family's £350,000 semi-detached home where neighbours expressed shock at the allegations. One neighbour commented: 'His parents are nice people. They're well liked. His mother was a councillor and took an active part in the community. I haven't seen them for a while, but the video is quite shocking.'
Social media evidence shows Williams has been a regular participant in pro-Palestine protests, with pictures from his Instagram account frequently showing him wearing a red and white keffiyeh scarf – an accessory strongly associated with the pro-Palestine movement.
Wider Context and Political Response
The case emerges against a backdrop of increasing concern about anti-Semitism on university campuses across the United Kingdom. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has spoken out about what she described as an 'unacceptable increase in anti-Semitism' at universities, noting that many Jewish students no longer feel safe in their educational environments.
Phillipson has called on universities to strengthen protections for Jewish students and confirmed that the Government is funding specific training programmes to help staff and students 'tackle this poison of antisemitism' within higher education institutions.
Williams also appears on a language-tutors website where he describes himself as a 'native German' speaker with 'a passion for German culture both old and modern', though this appears unrelated to the current allegations.
The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward, with the next court appearance scheduled for late February at Southwark Crown Court where formal pleas will be entered and the trial process will begin.
