UCL Friends of Israel hosted a talk by former IDF soldier and influencer Adiel Cohen on campus on Friday 24 October.
The event was delayed by protests which blocked attendees from entering the lobby, a source who attended the event told The Cheese Grater.
As the protest erupted, the source reported that Friends of Israel members were quick to dial 999, telling operators that the protest made them feel “unsafe” and allegedly claiming that some chants were antisemitic abuse.
The source estimated that over 50 students were part of the peaceful protest, representing the voices of 1100 students who signed an open letter calling for the talk to be cancelled. Pro-Israel sources have confirmed Cohen has been a reservist during the war in Gaza, in which 68,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, according to a United Nations report.
UCL Students for Justice in Palestine said Cohen would cause “severe psychological harm” to students, as they claim he is “a vocal proponent of the genocidal assault on Gaza”. His presence, they said, represents “UCL’s failure to uphold its duty to protect vulnerable students”.
Cohen reportedly told the Friends of Israel members in attendance that “[the protestors] can keep barking. It doesn’t bother me”, the source told The Cheese Grater. He later took to his Instagram story, telling his 86,000 followers that the student activists should “get a job” and find some “purpose”.
At the event, Cohen was interviewed by the president of Students Supporting Israel KCL, where he called the pro-Palestine protest a “hate movement”.
Cohen’s online following has expanded dramatically since October 7, as he has joined a roster of pro-Israel influencers. The event has since been shared online among pro-Israel accounts, with one Instagram user calling the UCL protestors “brownshirts” and “anti-Israel bigots”.
In response to chants calling for a ceasefire, the source reported that one student in attendance allegedly remarked: “Don’t they know there’s already been a ceasefire?” According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 93 Gazans have been killed since the October 11 ceasefire agreement.
The source reported that security and police worked to evacuate Cohen out of a back entrance. They claimed to have overheard a conversation between security, police, and event organisers suggesting Cohen be accompanied into an unmarked car to avoid a direct confrontation with protestors, though they were unsure if this plan was carried out.
Other attendees also left via the back exit, as the source disclosed that event organisers were worried that “visibly Jewish” students would be at risk walking through the crowd of protestors. The protest remained peaceful, without damage to person or property.
The students writing the open letter about the event argued that, “UCL and the Student Union are obligated to do all that is reasonably practicable to protect members from unlawful, direct, and indirect discrimination (…) alarm or distress.”
Despite this commitment, many Palestinian students have found themselves more anxious since UCL refused to cancel the event. UCL Students for Justice in Palestine claimed that “hosting a speaker who served in an occupying army” meets the criteria for harassment of Palestinian students.
Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost, said:
“It is absolutely unacceptable that protestors obstructed access to a scheduled UCL event, causing distress to those attending, and seeking to suppress the views and opinions of the invited speaker and audience. As part of our ongoing liaison with the Police, local officers attended. I sincerely apologise that this happened at UCL and to those affected.
“Freedom of speech is not only a legal right, but the cornerstone of academic and student life. We are firmly committed to upholding it and are investigating the full circumstances of this incident, with a view to taking disciplinary action, as appropriate, against anyone involved.
“Moreover, I am utterly appalled by reports of antisemitic comments and chants during the protest. This has no place at UCL and will form part of our investigation. UCL unequivocally condemns all forms of antisemitism and has made clear to our community that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“Universities must remain places where ideas can be debated openly and respectfully. We are determined to ensure that UCL continues to be a safe and inclusive environment for all our students and where free expression and the exchange of diverse viewpoints are welcome.
“We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses racism or other forms of unacceptable conduct at UCL to report it through the appropriate channels so we can take swift action against it.”
UCL Action for Palestine told The Cheese Grater:
“Adiel Cohen’s content is focused on the glorification of the Israeli Occupation Forces, and the justification of genocide and war crimes. Cohen was himself involved as a reservist for the IDF, which is responsible for the massacre and displacement of thousands of Palestinians.
“By allowing this event to go ahead, UCL disregarded its duty of care and the psychological harm caused to students. They also ignored over 1100 students who signed an open letter against the event in a matter of days. UCL shamefully hid the event from the public, and used security staff and police to protect it, continuing its stance of complicity and normalisation.
“Despite this, student action groups, including UCL Action for Palestine, successfully and peacefully disrupted the event from both outside and within the building in which the event was held. The student body sent a clear message – the IDF, and all those who carry out and support genocide, occupation and apartheid, are not welcome on our campus.”
UCL Friends of Israel Society did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
