Palestinian academics in UK call for protection of universities in Gaza
Nearly 30 Palestinian academics in the UK have called for “swift” action to safeguard universities in Gaza.
The statement, whose signatories include Ghassan Abu Sittah, who has worked at al-Shifa and Alhi Arab hospitals in Gaza during the war, urged “friends and colleagues to take immediate steps to defend the integrity of Palestinian universities in occupied Palestine against the current plans and measures seeking to destroy them”.
It added: “Having turned the universities of Gaza into detention centres before demolishing them, forcibly rendering Palestinian scholars, scientists, researchers and students homeless once again, Israel’s campaign of scholasticide has turned its attention to eliminating future independent Palestinian educational life in Gaza.”
The academics also said they demand the institutions created by Palestinians in the face of “immense challenges” are not destroyed “but instead are rebuilt”.
“They serve as a symbol of resilience and hope for the Palestinian people as a whole.”
IRC backs call for investigation into Gaza mass graves
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has become the latest organisation to call for an urgent international and independent investigation into mass graves found at Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals in Gaza after the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Bob Kitchen, vice president of emergencies, said the IRC was “horrified” at the news of the mass graves and echoed the call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk for a “thorough” investigation.
“The recent reports of more than 320 bodies recovered so far from Nasser Hospital are devastating and confirm the worst fears of our team at the time: that those left behind in the hospital were at risk of serious harm. We had lost contact with health workers and patients at Nasser and now fear they are amongst those killed,” Kitchen said.
“Alongside the need for an immediate international and independent investigation into these latest devastating incidents, we continue to reiterate our call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to ensure no further loss of life.”
