Australian National University: Pro-Palestine students allegedly perform Nazi salutes and impersonate Hitler during meeting
A prestigious university has launched an internal investigation after disturbing footage emerged of pro-Palestinian students allegedly performing Nazi salutes and Hitler impersonations during a union meeting via Zoom.
The alleged gun salutes, which are illegal in public places, are said to have taken place in front of Jewish students at the annual general meeting of the student association at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra on Wednesday evening.
One student was seen twice raising his arm in what appeared to be a Nazi salute.
Another student was filmed pretending to have a Hitler moustache.
Students at the Australian National University are said to have seen the Nazi-style gun salute (pictured) during a Zoom meeting
The university’s chancellor, former Foreign Secretary Julie Bishop, refused to answer questions put to her by Sky News about the incident.
However, the ANU media team responded by saying the incident will be investigated ‘in accordance with the university’s existing processes’ and that ‘appropriate action will be taken if necessary’.
Australian Federal Police told Sky News they were unaware of the incident, despite several students reportedly vowing to report it to authorities.
Sky News presenter Sharri Markson said Jewish students have communicated their distress and fear
Alleged harassment of students has escalated in the wake of global protests on university campuses against Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
The ANU, like many other campuses around the world, has seen pro-Palestinian students set up tents in permanent protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza
The alleged Nazi salutes and impersonation of Hitler were carried out as the meeting debated a motion stating: ‘Jewish students have the right to belong to the ANU community’.
The motion also called on the student union to condemn Hamas for the October 7 terror attacks on Israel and for the “hateful slogans and anti-Semitic hate speech” chanted on campus.
The motion proposed that the student union support a two-state solution to end the conflict in the Middle East, but all points were voted down.
It is a criminal offense to give the Nazi salute in a public place in Australia.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Australian Federal Police for comment.
ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop (pictured left) declined to comment on the incident when contacted by Sky News