“On both sides, education staff and students have been killed alongside their families, and many more have lost loved ones and friends. Our thoughts and solidarity go to all those affected,” the statement read.
“On both sides, education staff and students have been killed alongside their families, and many more have lost loved ones and friends. Our thoughts and solidarity go to all those affected,” the statement read.
The University College Union (UCU) called out the UK Parliament for supposedly failing to back calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“The November 15th vote in the Westminster Parliament, which failed to back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, was a shocking failure by Westminster politicians to support the protection of civilian life and respond to the growing calls across the UK for a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.” said UCU said.
Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7 and the ensuing Israeli military assault on Gaza have led to a significant loss of life.
UN figures reported over 10,000 Palestinians, including 4,000 children, killed in Gaza in the past month, while the Israeli government claims 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attacks.
Dozens killed in the October 7 attack in Israel were educators and students in colleges and universities. In Palestine, authorities confirm 439 higher education students and employees have been killed. The General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT) and the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE) have reported at least 130 teachers killed.
“On both sides, education staff and students have been killed alongside their families, and many more have lost loved ones and friends. Our thoughts and solidarity go to all those affected,” the statement read.
The Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education noted that buildings at institutions such as the Islamic University of Gaza, Al-Azhar University, the North Gaza and Tubas branches of Al-Quds Open University, and the buildings of An-Najah National University at Palestine Technical University Kadoorie have been fully or partially destroyed by Israeli military strikes.
Students in the West Bank are confronting an escalation of Israeli military and settler violence. Over the past month, more than 170 Palestinians have been killed, and over 2,500 Palestinians have been injured in the West Bank. Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reports that settler attacks have compelled 963 Palestinians to leave their West Bank homes since the onset of violence.
Displacement, movement restrictions, and heightened violence are also impeding access to higher education in the West Bank.
UCU stance on the Hamas – Israel conflict
UCU aligns with many voices in Palestine, Israel, the UK, and beyond, reiterating the calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and the lifting of the siege on Gaza.
The UCU also calls on the UK government and the international community to ensure that education buildings in Palestine are rebuilt. Palestinian education institutions, teachers, students, and researchers should be provided with assistance and support to ensure access to education, added UCU.
Oxford statement
Student groups at Oxford University issued a joint statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict signed by 14 different groups, including the Oxford Palestine Society and the Oxford South Asian Society.
The statement reflects the ongoing global conversation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It asserts that the root cause of the continuing violence in the region is the Israeli settler-colonial occupation and apartheid.
The statement draws parallels with a similar joint statement by 33 student societies at Harvard University, which also blamed Israel for the conflict in Gaza. This highlights that the issue is not limited to one university or region; it has become a subject of concern and debate at prestigious academic institutions worldwide.
