The Oxford Union at England’s Oxford University voted overwhelmingly, 278 to 59, in favor of a proposition labeling Israel an apartheid state responsible for genocide. The high-profile debate, held under strict security, drew hundreds of protesters outside and featured prominent pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian speakers.

The pro-Israel side included British lawyer Natasha Hausdorff, journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti, Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad, and former Hamas member turned-Israeli spy Mosab Hassan Yousef. They clashed with opponents, including US political scientist Norman Finkelstein, Israeli-American activist Miko Peled, Palestinian-American author Susan Abulhawa, and Palestinian writer Mohammed El-Kurd.

Tensions flared as the debate devolved into shouting between speakers and the audience. Haddad was forcibly removed after an altercation with attendees.

Following the debate, Yousef posted on X, accusing the union of being “controlled by terrorist supporters.” He claimed a poll conducted during the debate revealed that 75% of participants would not have reported Hamas plans to prevent the October 7 attack.

The debate reflects intensifying global divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with sharp disagreements on Israel’s actions in the region. Protests and heightened emotions underscored the debate’s controversial nature.