Police called in after radical activists hijack Gaza war protests at universities

Hardline activists have crashed student peace protests as police are called in to investigate claims of violence on campus and Jason Clare demands universities ‘throw the book at blow-ins’.

Pro-Palestine activist Mohammad Sharab berates Jewish students on campus at Monash University in Melbourne.

Hardline activists have hijacked student peace protests as universities call in police to investigate claims of violence on campus.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare on Wednesday demanded universities “throw the book at blow-ins’’, as the federal opposition denounced “cesspits of activism’’ and flagged a Senate inquiry into anti-Semitism at ­universities.

“There is no place for hate or the poison of anti-Semitism at our universities or anywhere else and there is no place for blow-ins coming into universities to intimidate students,’’ Mr Clare said.

At Monash University in Melbourne, students filmed pro-­Palestine activist Mohammad Sharab as he swore at Jewish students at the Clayton campus on Wednesday. “I am a Palestinian from Gaza,’’ he told a Jewish student trying to walk past the pro-Palestine protesters.

“What you are experiencing right now is exactly what I experienced my entire f..king life, going from one city to the other, through checkpoints. Look how uncomfortable you are.

“Israel is a terrorist state and Zionism is a terrorist entity. Now get your phone and f..k off.’’

Mr Sharab is on bail over ­charges of alleged kidnapping and assault.

Another visitor to the campus on Wednesday was activist Ihab al-Azhari, who was filmed telling pro-Palestinian protesters not to let the Jewish students past.

Mr Azhari, founder of the Sit-Intifada protest movement, was filmed on the steps of Victoria’s parliament on Monday declaring that “7 October is just the bloody beginning of it’’.

Hamas terrorists raided an Israeli music festival on October 7, killing and kidnapping 1200 civilians and triggering the five-month Gaza-Israeli war to free hostages.

“You are going to have plenty of 7 Octobers coming, plenty of it,’’ he was filmed saying on Monday.

A Monash University spokesman yesterday refused to say why the two activists, who are not staff or students, were on campus.

“Monash has referred a number of matters to police,’’ he said. “We will take all necessary action to ensure the safety of students and the Monash community.’’

Monash University also revealed it had asked social media platforms to remove posts stating that “Zionists … are not welcome’’ on campus, following “expert independent” advice.

“Our best judgement, based on that advice, is that this statement likely constitutes harassment and/or vilification,’’ it said.

“We have reported and form­ally requested the relevant social media platforms remove the unacceptable posts.’’

At the University of Queensland, police are investigating the alleged assault of two security guards since rival pro-Palestinian and pro-Jewish protesters pitched tents at opposite ends of the great court last week.

A woman was fined after reportedly urinating in the office of a Jewish academic.

“Investigations are ongoing into the alleged assault of two security guards by two men at the educational facility earlier this month,’’ a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said.

“While we respect the right for anyone in Queensland to protest peacefully, violence of any kind will not be tolerated.

“Police will act swiftly if any acts reach a criminal threshold.’’

‘From UQ to Gaza’ sign at the Pro-Palestinian camp at the University of Queensland. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Queensland police said they had fined a 23-year-old West End woman for trespassing, and then taken her to hospital after she “attended a study area before allegedly creating a disturbance’’ on May 3. The next day, they were called to another “disturbance’’ at the university and charged a 23-year-old West End woman with public nuisance.

A UQ spokeswoman said it had sought “police support on another matter involving a student and staff member, which has been conflated with the protests on campus’’.

“While the behaviour of the student is unacceptable, there were extenuating circumstances relating to this matter,’’ she said.

“The university has a duty of care to the student and staff member, and cannot comment further on this matter.’’

Outside activists were present at both rival protest camps at UQ throughout the week, including stalls set up by the Revolutionary Communist Organisation and the Socialist Alternative group, which prevented students from speaking to journalists.

The pro-Palestinian camp displayed a sign “Join the camp!! F..k your classes!!!’’

UQ emeritus professor Tor Hundloe – a veteran protester hailed by his university as the “green Viking’’ – yesterday wrote to UQ vice-chancellor Deborah Terry complaining about outsiders “squatting’’ on campus.

He said outsiders were “prohibiting free speech’’ by students.

“Some obvious ringleaders/controllers of the protesters are not students or university staff,’’ he wrote. “Nevertheless, as squatters, they had taken it upon themselves to erect tents on the campus. What I witnessed on campus … was akin to enemies in the trenches. Debate was out of the question.’’

A Senate inquiry into anti-Semitism on campus will be demanded by the Coalition when parliament resumes next week.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said universities should “dismantle these cesspits of activism’’.

“(This) is flourishing at some universities because of a failure of moral courage and leadership by the Albanese government and some vice-chancellors,’’ she said.

“Allowing the establishment of encampments opens the floodgates to round-the-clock occupation by extremist protesters, including those who have no connection with a university.

The Pro-Israel camp at the University of Queensland. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“There must be zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.

“This is a level of harassment that would not be tolerated for any other group of students.

“These cesspits of activism, in flagrant breach of university policies, must be shut down.’’

Mr Clare said he had made it clear to universities that “there is nothing more important than the safety of students and staff on campus’’.

He said the university regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, had set up a “regulatory response team to proactively monitor the actions universities are taking’’.

Police are also probing an incident filmed at Monash University on Tuesday, when a Jewish student wrapped himself in the Israeli flag and sat within the pro-Palestinian protest space.

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters stood over him, screaming “Free free Palestine’’ into a megaphone pointed at his ear while shining a bright light into his eyes, as two Monash University security guards watched on in silence.