Jewish Students Face Rising Anti-Semitism and Nazi Salutes on Australian Campuses

A Jewish student at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra testified before the Royal Commission investigating anti-Semitism and social cohesion in Australia. The commission was established following the deadly Bundy synagogue attack during Hanukkah, where 15 people were killed. The student, identified only as Liat for safety reasons, described how what began as low-level anti-Semitic remarks on campus escalated after the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, into extreme expressions including Nazi salutes and being called "baby killers."

Liat, who grew up in a Zionist Jewish community, recounted her initial attempts to integrate into campus life in 2022, only to face dismissive and anti-Semitic comments disguised as jokes. After the October attack, she experienced social isolation and hostility, with some non-Jewish peers distancing themselves due to her Zionist identity. A 110-day protest camp against Israel on campus intensified the hostile environment, with protesters labeling Jewish students as "genocide supporters" and chanting slogans like "Intifada, revolution" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which Liat said created a threatening atmosphere.

She revealed that she began hiding her Jewish identity in daily campus interactions, avoiding using her real name in casual settings. During a Jewish student counter-protest, an unrelated individual performed a Nazi salute at them. Additionally, during a student union Zoom meeting, Nazi salutes and Hitler mustache gestures were reportedly made while she spoke. Liat expressed fear and exhaustion from facing such hatred alone.

Another witness, a former lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) using the pseudonym ACJ, testified that four students gave him Nazi salutes during a business class. As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, he described the incident as deeply traumatic. He criticized the university's response as inadequate, noting it issued only verbal warnings and did not treat the incident as a criminal offense. After reporting to police, he said he was no longer offered temporary teaching positions.

These testimonies highlight a surge in anti-Semitic incidents on Australian campuses following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, prompting calls for stronger institutional responses to protect Jewish students and staff.