A mob of pro-Palestine activists “threatened to behead” a London university professor after storming into his lecture, calling the Israeli academic a “war criminal” and “Nazi” to his face.
Professor Michael Ben-Gad, an economics lecturer at City St George’s University, revealed how masked protesters invaded his classroom and refused to leave despite attempts to bolster his security after the campus was plastered with leaflets branding him a “terrorist.”
The self-described “unapologetic Israeli patriot” has faced multiple calls for his sacking over his mandatory military service in the Israeli Defence Forces in the early 1980s – more than 40 years ago.
Prof Ben-Gad has vowed to continue teaching, stating: “No one is going to intimidate me.”
“Made a Threat About Having My Head Chopped Off”
Following the recent threats, Prof Ben-Gad told Sky News: “I can update on the situation as of about an hour ago.
“I finished my lecture and it was invaded by protesters who came right up to my face and called me a war criminal and a Nazi.”
“They refused to leave, they were masked. One of them made a threat about having my head chopped off.”
The beheading threat against a Jewish professor in a British university represents an alarming escalation of campus antisemitism.
Petition Demands Immediate Firing
Last week, a petition calling for Prof Ben-Gad to be fired “immediately” was launched by activist group City Action for Palestine.
The group also called for the university, ranked 86th in the country, “to consider such fundamental matter when hiring in the future” and demanded an apology.
It added: “Shame on City for allowing a terrorist to be near and teach Arab and Muslim students despite being an active participant in murdering their people.”
The inflammatory language accusing a professor of being a “terrorist” and “murdering” people based solely on decades-old mandatory military service demonstrates the extremism driving these campaigns.
Campus Covered With “Terrorist” Leaflets
The protest came despite attempts to bolster Prof Ben-Gad’s security after the university campus was covered with leaflets branding him a “terrorist.”
One leaflet called into question his employment history, drawing particular attention to his time in the IDF.
It also mentioned his “six years working in a genocidal society” as a lecturer at the University of Haifa and his role working as an economist at the Bank of Israel from 1987 to 1989.
Mandatory Military Service
All Jewish, Druze and Circassian male citizens over the age of 18 are required by the State of Israel to serve in the armed forces for a minimum of 32 months.
For women, a minimum of 24 months is required.
Prof Ben-Gad’s military service in the early 1980s – over 40 years ago – was mandatory, not voluntary, yet activists treat it as evidence he’s a “war criminal.”
“Particularly Jewish Students” Vulnerable
Prof Ben-Gad said: “My main concern is for people who are far more vulnerable than I am – and I mean particularly Jewish students who have been targeted all over the country.”
“There is much more going on as far as I’m concerned than what is being reported.”
His concern reflects the reality that if a tenured professor with institutional backing faces beheading threats, vulnerable Jewish students face far worse without similar protection.
Refuses Paid Leave Offer
The professor, who has worked at City St George’s since 2008, said: “The university has been fantastic, they have been supportive of me from the very start.”
“There was an offer of paid leave, I could sit at home and work on my research. It was tempting but under the circumstances, I am carrying on with my duties. The students should expect nothing less from me.”
Prof Ben-Gad’s refusal to hide demonstrates courage in the face of intimidation designed to drive Jewish academics from British universities.
“University Has Been Fantastic”
“The university has been fantastic, they have been supportive of me from the very start,” Prof Ben-Gad stated.
The institutional support contrasts with many British universities that have capitulated to pro-Palestine activism by canceling events, banning Israeli speakers or failing to protect Jewish students and staff.
Hundreds of Academics Defend Professor
Hundreds of academics have defended Professor Ben-Gad against the harassment campaign.
A statement signed by professors and tutors from institutions such as Imperial College London and the University of Oxford said: “Academics and students have a right to go about their work at any university without facing harassment.”
“Attacks of this kind are intimidating, particularly to Jewish students, and set a precedent under which others could be targeted in the future.”
University Rejects “Unlawful Actions”
A spokesman for City St George’s University said: “City St George’s fully supports and upholds freedom of expression within the law and is willing to engage in lawful discussion and debate across the full range of topics.”
“However, unlawful and repugnant attempts to obstruct and interfere with our academic operations are another thing entirely, and the university will not tolerate the harassment of its staff and students.”
“We reject the unlawful actions of this small group of individuals that is neither affiliated with the University nor its Students’ Union.”
“We will continue to support and protect our staff and students, including Michael, who has the full support of the University and its senior management team, as well as colleagues of all faiths and backgrounds.”
Masked Protesters Invaded Classroom
The fact that masked protesters invaded an active lecture, approached the professor directly, and refused to leave when asked demonstrates brazen disregard for both law and academic freedom.
These weren’t peaceful demonstrators exercising free speech rights – they were intimidators using physical presence and threats to silence a Jewish academic.
“War Criminal” and “Nazi” Accusations
The accusations of “war criminal” and “Nazi” hurled at a Jewish professor represent particularly vicious forms of antisemitism.
Calling a Jew a “Nazi” inverts the Holocaust whilst “war criminal” accusations based on mandatory military service decades ago demonstrate bad faith.
No One Arrested
Notably, the article doesn’t mention any arrests despite:
- Protesters invading a lecture
- Refusing to leave when asked
- Making beheading threats
- Harassing a professor to his face
The apparent lack of consequences for threatening behaviour suggests British authorities tolerate intimidation of Jewish academics.
“Small Group” Framing
The university’s characterization of protesters as a “small group” may be technically accurate but understates the broader campus climate.
Whilst masked intruders may number in single digits, the petition calling for Prof Ben-Gad’s firing and widespread leafleting campaign demonstrate more extensive hostility.
Setting Dangerous Precedent
The academic statement warning these “attacks…set a precedent under which others could be targeted in the future” identifies the real danger.
If activists successfully intimidate or remove Prof Ben-Gad, every Jewish academic with Israeli connections becomes a potential target.
“Unapologetic Israeli Patriot”
Prof Ben-Gad’s self-description as an “unapologetic Israeli patriot” demonstrates refusal to hide his identity or apologize for his background.
This courage contrasts with many British Jews who hide their identity or Israeli connections to avoid harassment.
Forty Years Ago
The targeting of Prof Ben-Gad over military service in the early 1980s – over 40 years ago – shows activists aren’t responding to current events but rather targeting Jews for their identity.
Someone who served in the IDF four decades ago had nothing to do with current Gaza operations, yet faces “war criminal” accusations anyway.
“Genocidal Society”
The leaflet’s description of Israel as a “genocidal society” and accusation that Prof Ben-Gad participated in “murdering their people” represents libel designed to dehumanize and justify violence.
Such extreme rhetoric creates the conditions where threatening to behead someone seems justified.
Arab and Muslim Students
The petition’s specific mention of “Arab and Muslim students” positions them as victims requiring protection from a Jewish professor.
This framing treats Jewish and Muslim students as inherently antagonistic rather than fellow learners who should coexist peacefully.
Freedom of Expression Hypocrisy
Pro-Palestine activists demand unlimited freedom of expression for themselves – including invading lectures and making threats – whilst demanding Jewish academics be fired for their backgrounds.
The selective application of free speech principles exposes the movement’s bad faith.
British University Crisis
The Prof Ben-Gad case exemplifies the crisis facing British universities where:
- Jewish academics face harassment and threats
- Pro-Palestine mobs invade classrooms with impunity
- Demands to fire Jews over Israeli connections
- Campus climates hostile to Jewish students
- Institutions struggle to protect academic freedom
As Professor Michael Ben-Gad faces beheading threats for the “crime” of being an Israeli who served in the IDF four decades ago, British universities confront the reality that pro-Palestine activism has metastasized from legitimate protest into violent antisemitic intimidation that treats Jewish academics as legitimate targets for harassment, threats and removal.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
