Statement from the Academic Action Network for Palestine

The settler colonisation of Palestine over the past 76 years has profoundly impacted higher education, characterised by sustained attacks on Palestinian educational and cultural institutions since 1948. The Arab College in Jerusalem, established in 1899 and also known as Al-Quds College, was the first Palestinian Higher Education Institution to be permanently closed and destroyed during the Nakba of 1948, following the establishment of the Zionist settler colonial state (ZSCS) in Palestine.

 

The ZSCS has gravely affected the education sector in historic Palestine, with severe restrictions imposed on the movement of students, faculty members, academic materials, and greatly limiting access to educational resources and development opportunities. Checkpoints, roadblocks, the apartheid wall and barriers impede the daily commute of students and faculty to educational institutions, hindering academic freedom and inhibiting the exchange of ideas.

 

Palestinian educational institutions also face systematic underfunding and resource deprivation, exacerbated by discriminatory policies and practices. Limited access to funding, equipment, and infrastructure undermines the quality of education and research conducted within Palestine, perpetuating a cycle of academic marginalisation and dependency.

 

In addition to direct physical attacks and destruction, Palestinian educational institutions are subjected to censorship, surveillance, and control by the ZSCS military forces, further eroding academic freedom and autonomy. The neoliberal context and conditional funding impose further restrictions on curriculum content, freedom of expression, and cultural activities impeding the development of critical thinking skills and intellectual diversity within Palestinian academia. The ZSCS occupation forces impose arbitrary closures and military incursions into educational campuses, disrupting academic activities and endangering the safety and well-being of students and faculty. These actions not only disrupt the continuity of learning but also instill a climate of fear and uncertainty within educational environments.

 

Higher Education Institutes in Gaza, in particular, have been profoundly impacted by the ongoing occupation and blockade. Restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as well as frequent closures of border crossings, have severely limited access to educational resources, international collaboration, and academic exchange. Infrastructure damage caused by occupation military operations has left universities struggling to maintain facilities and equipment, hindering the quality of education. Additionally, the siege has led to chronic shortages of essential supplies, including textbooks, laboratory materials, and electricity, further undermining the learning environment. The targeting of educational institutions and scholars has instilled fear and uncertainty, inhibiting academic freedom and intellectual development. Despite these challenges, students and faculty members in Gaza demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination to pursue higher education amidst adversity. Efforts to support Gaza’s Higher Education must be prioritised when addressing these systemic barriers and promoting solidarity to ensure equitable access to quality education for all Palestinians.

 

In the ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, the occupation military forces’ attack on Gaza has reached devastating proportions, resulting in severe damage to all universities and Higher Education Institutions, causing loss of life among students, scholars, and academics in Gaza. Mercilessly and indiscriminately, all Gaza Universities have been subjected to bombings by ZSCS in Palestine, severely compromising access to Higher Education for thousands of students. The ZSCS military force has killed hundreds of university students and academics, Palestinian intellectuals, medical staff, and cultural producers, including numerous internationally respected scholars, Deans, and presidents. 

 

These targeted killings not only result in the loss of valuable human capital but also serve to intimidate and suppress intellectual dissent and cultural expression within Palestinian society. By systematically eliminating key figures within academia and cultural circles, the settler colonial military forces seek to undermine Palestinian identity, Sumud (steadfastness), and aspirations for the liberation of Palestine.

 

We, as concerned members of the global academic community, recognise the urgent need to establish a borderless and transnational solidarity action network to support academia in Palestine, with a primary focus on rebuilding Higher Education in Gaza. The ongoing challenges facing academics and institutions in Palestine demand a united and concerted effort to provide material, financial, and action-oriented support.

 

Our initiative aims to provide assistance to academics and institutions in Palestine through various means, including financial aid, resource mobilisation, and advocacy efforts. We are also committed to promoting actions of solidarity that amplify the voices of Palestinian academics and students, whilst also fostering partnerships with Higher Education Institutions worldwide to facilitate collaboration and exchange.

 

Key goals of our initiative include:

1.    Amplifying Palestinian academic voices through action-oriented solidarity initiatives and support.

2.    Providing material and financial support to academic institutions in Palestine, particularly those in Gaza, to aid in their reconstruction and development.

3.    Offering research and fellowship opportunities for Palestinian academics, enabling them to pursue their scholarly endeavors and contribute to global knowledge production.

4.    Providing academic support for current university students in Gaza who have not had any educational activities since November 2023.

5.    Supporting curriculum development initiatives to ensure that Palestinian Higher Education Institutions can offer relevant and high-quality educational programs.

6.    Facilitating educational support in teaching and research by providing resources, training, and mentorship to faculty members and researchers.

7.    Establishing partnerships with Higher Education Institutions around the world to foster collaboration, exchange, and mutual support.

 

Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the steadfast and vitality of academia in Palestine, empower Palestinian scholars, and advance the cause of justice and equality in the region. We call upon academics, Higher Education Institutions, and organisations worldwide to join us in this important initiative and to stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Palestine.

 

The initiative’s goals will be urgently implemented with a primary focus on supporting Higher Education in Gaza. Recognising the dire situation, the destruction of educational infrastructure and urgent need for assistance, our initiative will prioritise immediate action to provide material, financial, and action-oriented support to rebuild and strengthen Gaza’s Higher Education Institutions.

 

Given the recent devastating attacks on Gaza’s universities and the loss of leading scholars, it is imperative that we act swiftly and decisively to mitigate the impact of these assaults and restore educational opportunities for students and faculty in Gaza. Our efforts will be directed towards addressing the immediate challenges facing Higher Education in Gaza, including the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, the provision of essential resources, and the support of academic staff and students who have been affected by the genocidal war on Gaza.

 

By prioritising Gaza’s Higher Education in our initiative, we demonstrate our commitment to standing in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and ensuring that they have access to quality education and research opportunities despite the challenges they face. Through collective action and collaboration, we will work towards rebuilding and revitalising Gaza’s Higher Education sector, laying the foundation for a brighter future for Palestinian academics and students.