ANU investigating reports of Nazi salute, death threats against Jewish students on campus as pro-Palestine encampment continues

A pro-Palestine encampment, similar to those set up at other universities around the world, began at the ANU earlier this week. (ABC News: James Vyver)

The Australian National University is investigating allegations of a Nazi salute being performed on-campus and death threats aimed at Jewish students.

A pro-Palestine encampment, similar to others being established at university campuses around the country, was set up at the ANU earlier this week but it is unclear whether the alleged threats came from students involved with the protest.

The ABC has been unable to independently verify the claims, which are alleged to have taken place on Monday during a counter-protest, and a spokesperson for ACT Policing said no reports had been filed to police on the matter.

This afternoon, the ANU confirmed it was “investigating” the claims and in a statement said it did not condone “any speech that is discriminatory or violates Australian law or our code of conduct”.

Federal laws which came into effect in January made it illegal to perform the Nazi salute in public.

“Necessary disciplinary action may be taken if our codes are breached,” the ANU spokesperson said.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the campus’s security team was also in “regular communication” with police to ensure the continued safety of campus.

“As mentioned, all ANU staff and students are expected to follow the university’s code of conduct,” the statement read.

“This code of conduct includes all activities that take place on ANU grounds, including activities run by ANUSA and student clubs and societies.”

Ongoing pro-Palestine encampment dividing some on campus 

Since last week, students at Australian universities have been setting up encampments on campuses, inspired by the growing protests across the United States.

Many protests have been calling for an end to Australian universities’ links with Israeli institutions.

The ANU protest sprang up on Monday, organised by various groups including the Australian National University Students’ Association (ANUSA).

ANUSA president Phoenix O’Neill said the encampment was a “peaceful protest” but they acknowledged it was a confronting issue.

“If it’s not universities where we can have these really difficult discussions, then where can we have these discussions?” they said.

Jewish student, Ariel, told the ABC he didn’t feel as though the university was doing anything to address concerns about safety on campus, as the encampment continued.

“It’s very intimidating … I personally am quite distressed by it,” he said.

He was at the counter-protest on Monday evening where some of the alleged incidents are claimed to have taken place.

Ariel was also among a group of Jewish students who penned a letter to university management, seen by the ABC, saying they do not feel safe on campus and alleging the encampment was exacerbating those safety concerns.

“Many Jewish students … feel unsafe, unwelcome, and anxious when attending classes due to the presence of the encampment,” the letter read.

But another Jewish student, Anna, had become involved with the encampment and argued it was important for Jewish students to do so.

“I feel like a lot of the narrative around Jewish students and like Jewish people has been quite negative,” she said.

“People being against the Israeli government is not people being against the Jewish people.

“No one here wants to exclude any of the Jewish people on campus.”

She said she had not witnessed any anti-Semitic behaviour on campus and had been welcomed into the encampment community.

“I’ve been so immensely welcomed in this community and I’ve never felt more supported or welcomed in my life,” Anna said.