University of Sydney staffer sacked over verbal abuse hurled at Jewish students

A University of Sydney staffer has been sacked after shocking footage emerged of Jewish students being verbally abused on campus. Sky News obtained footage of a woman asking students if they were Zionists in chaotic scenes that erupted on university grounds in October. The students were reportedly celebrating the Jewish holiday Sukkot when the woman approached them. “A Zionist is the lowest form of rubbish … Zionists are the most disgusting thing that has ever walked this earth,” the woman says in the clip. She claims to be an “Indigenous Palestinian”, ranting about the group being “child killers” and calling one member a “f**king filthy Zionist”. A security guard tries to separate the pair. “Look at this rubbish, look at these parasites,” the woman says. The University of Sydney issued a statement days after 15 people were killed by two gunmen and dozens were injured celebrating Chanukah on Bondi Beach. A university spokesman said the behaviour was deeply distressing and utterly unacceptable, apologising to students. “We immediately suspended the staff member pending a formal process and have now terminated their employment on the grounds of serious misconduct,” a spokesman said. “Hate speech, anti-Semitism and harassment have no place at our university, and when our codes of conduct are breached we do not hesitate to take disciplinary action.” The spokesman said the university had introduced significant reforms since an encampment protesting the Gaza conflict was disbanded on campus last year. He said complaints relating to anti-Semitism at the university had declined. The pro-Palestine encampment – the longest running in Australia – ran from April to June last year before it was disbanded. “We continue to work on making our campus safe for all and if our codes are breached, we do not hesitate to take disciplinary action,” the spokesman said.