Middle East Crisis Response Guidance - For students, SUs, officers and student groups

Unimaginable violence and suffering have taken place in Israel and Palestine on, and since October 7^th 2023. We stand against terrorism, war, occupation, and violence. Palestinian and Israeli people have the right to live in peace and prosperity, free from terrorism, free from occupation, free from violence, and free from fear.

Violence in Israel and Palestine means a higher risk of antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian hate and anti-Israeli hate in the UK. Colleges and universities are no exception to this*. CST data** shows that antisemitism has increased by 534%, and Tell Mama data*** shows a 335% increase in Islamophobia since October 7^th.

Students across the UK are being impacted in different ways. Some are grieving the killing or kidnap of loved ones in the region, or living with the daily worry that they may be hurt or killed. Some feel moved to take political or humanitarian action through protest and fundraising. Many Jewish and Muslim students are experiencing increased levels of fear and hate in their daily lives on and off campus.

Jewish students have been speaking out through their national representative body – the Union of Jewish Students – against unprecedented levels of antisemitic abuse, attacks on people and Jewish buildings, an absence of humanity or compassion relating to Israeli deaths, and a sense of being wholly unwelcome on their own campuses.

Muslim students have been speaking out through their national representative body – the Federation of Islamic Student Societies – against relentless and unfair targeting of Muslim students who voice solidarity with Palestine (or who are simply going about their daily lives), and against verbal and physical abuse that is often associated with an accusation of extremism or terrorism.

We must listen, understand, and act.

For NUS, SUs, Unis and Colleges this is a moment to support students, stand firm in tackling hate-speech and abuse, and de-escalate fear and tension on campus.

For students this is a moment to show leadership by showing compassion and sensitivity to fellow students no matter their identity or politics.

For activists this is a moment to stand up for what you believe in and exercise your right to protest whilst going the extra mile to make sure your activism is inclusive and doesn’t include antisemitic or Islamophobic language, images, or hidden meanings.

* Top Universities see five-fold surge in anti-Semitic incidents since October 7,  Telegraph (2024). Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/29/top-universities-surge-anti-semitism-hamas/

**https://cst.org.uk/news/blog/2023/12/13/antisemitic-incidents-13-december-update.

***https://tellmamauk.org/greatest-rise-in-reported-anti-muslim-hate-cases-to-tell-mama-since-oct-7th/

What is NUS doing?

1. Convened a Crisis Response Team that oversees NUS UK and NUS Charity’s response, publishes guidance to SUs and students, and tracks incidents and trends.
2. Meet regularly with government and sector stakeholders, political parties, and student groups to coordinate our response and share information.
3. Undertaken specialist training on tackling antisemitism, Islamophobia, and on how to manage discussions around Israel and Palestine.
4. Run an SU Crisis Hotline open 7 days per week for SUs in need of advice and support around Israel and Palestine related issues on campus.
5. Taken disciplinary or police action against individuals who use hate speech or discriminatory abuse, or who engage in unlawful speech or actions at our events or in our name.

Resources

To find out about learning opportunities around antisemitism, Islamophobia, race equity, and Israel-Palestine NUS members should visit the NUS Charity learning resources hub or email us directly.

What should students’ unions do?

On 6th September 2024 NUS UK and Universities UK published a joint letter to leaders of students' unions and universities on our joint role in tackling hate speech and racism, and improving community relations.

What should students, learners and groups do?

We encourage students and officers across the UK to show leadership in the words they choose and the actions they take in response to the crisis.

In practice this means:

	Speak and act with compassion, sensitivity and humanity and be generous in spirit to people who are reacting from a place of pain and fear
	Read up on how to talk about Israel and Palestine in an inclusive way
	Go out of your way to make sure Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian students are safe and welcome. Learn about these communities and engage with their representatives and groups
	If you are affected by the violence in Israel and Palestine, if you’re struggling, or if you find yourself in trouble reach out to your students’ union – help is available
	Don’t stand by if you witness antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian or anti-Israeli abuse or violence – report it, have the difficult conversation, and take action if it is safe to do so
	Never justify, celebrate, or excuse the violence, killing or suffering in Israel and Palestine
	Never vilify anyone’s identity or national association – particularly people who identify closely with Palestine or Israel
	Never target Jewish, Israeli, Muslim or Palestinian students with hate or abuse, don’t assume their political beliefs, and don’t demand that they take a ‘stance’

Responding to hate speech, discrimination, hate crimes, and abuse

Bystander intervention: If it is safe to do so and you feel able to, you can consider if an intervention is appropriate. Options for bystander intervention include:

• direct intervention: e.g. tell someone their speech is harmful or take someone aside for a conversation
• distract: e.g. create a bit of space in the situation that allows someone to exit
• delegate: e.g. approach someone senior in your SU or at an event and ask them to intervene
• document what’s happening: e.g. take a note of what is being said/done and by whom

Approach the victim: Approach the target of the abuse. Ask if they are OK. Ask if you can help in anyway - for example accompanying them as they leave a harmful situation and staying with them until a friend gets there. Find a safe place for them to sit down. Help them report the incident.

Report it: Reporting discriminatory incidents, hate crimes, and hate speech is incredibly important.

• Report an incident in NUS or at an NUS event here
• Report an incident to your students’ union or institution
• Report antisemitism to the Community Security Trust here
• Support and information about Islamophobia from the Muslim Council of Britain is here
• Report hate crime to the Police here

Call 999 if a crime is in progress or if someone is in immediate danger