Gaza universities seek global academic support after Israeli strikes kill three staff members

University leaders in Gaza have called on the international academic community to support Palestinian higher education after Israeli forces carried out two air strikes on the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) on Oct 25, killing three university staff members and injuring seven students.

The strikes took place while students were attending lectures at the institution. Some of the injured students were reported to be in critical condition.

The Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza, which represents institutions in the territory's non-profit higher education sector, condemned the attacks and called for greater international academic solidarity.

In a statement, the committee said the attacks had killed hundreds of academics and more than 1,300 students, while thousands of university faculty members, staff and students had been injured. It urged universities and scholarly associations worldwide to publicly condemn the strikes, demand an end to the attacks and seek accountability for violations of international law.

Gaza universities seek international partnerships

The committee has called on universities worldwide to establish and strengthen institutional partnerships with universities in Gaza. These partnerships, it said, should support the continuation of teaching and research as well as the rebuilding of higher education institutions.

The appeal comes as universities in Gaza continue to face extensive damage to their campuses. The Islamic University of Gaza's campus had already been largely destroyed by Israeli bombardment, but teaching had continued amid the ruins, THE reported.

The committee has also asked international universities to provide financial support to its official scholarship programme, ISNAD. The scheme raises funds to cover students' tuition fees directly and helps universities continue receiving tuition fee income.

According to the committee's appeal, a donation of £800 can cover one student's tuition fees for an entire academic year.
UK university union condemns attacks

The UK's University and College Union (UCU) has also condemned the strikes and expressed solidarity with those affected and the wider Palestinian community.

UCU described the attack as a renewed escalation in the destruction of Palestinian higher education and referred to the targeting of universities as “scholasticide”.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said it was particularly distressing that students and staff who had resumed education despite the destruction of their universities had again been subjected to military violence. She also called for Palestinian academics and students not to be left to protect the future of their universities without international support.

The union's response echoed the Gaza universities' appeal for international institutions to stand alongside Palestinian higher education communities.