Aberdeen University’s senate has condemned Israel’s “systematic destruction of Palestinian educational institutions” and the “censorship of expressions of solidarity” with Palestine.
The senate – the highest academic governing body at the university – is responsible for teaching and research.
It has 86 members and the motion was carried with 56 in favour.
The move was welcomed by Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) which said it condemns violence towards Palestinians by the Israeli government, and the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
AUSA also called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Israeli forces invaded Gaza after Hamas – proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government – killed 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October and took 250 people hostage.
Since then nearly 26,000 children – or just over two percent of Gaza’s child population – have been killed or injured.
The motion condemns Israeli systematic destruction of educational institutions and knowledge systems in Palestine for over 75 years.
Sanaa al-Azawi, PhD student at Aberdeen University
Gaza’s education system has suffered significantly since Israel’s bombardment and assault on the strip began. Israel blew up Gaza’s last standing university, Al-Israa University, with 12 others having been mostly destroyed by bombing.
At least 378 schools have been destroyed or damaged and the Palestinian Ministry of Education has reported the deaths of over 4,327 students, 231 teachers and 94 professors.
The motion condemning Israel’s attacks on education for Palestinians was proposed by Sanaa al-Azawi, a PhD student at Aberdeen University.
She told The Ferret: “The motion condemns Israeli systematic destruction of educational institutions and knowledge systems in Palestine for over 75 years. I am proud of the university for standing for humanity and knowledge and we will continue demanding a ceasefire and protection for Palestinians and their institutions.
“Another important achievement of that motion is to ensure the freedom of speech for our academics and students on campus.”
The president of Aberdeen University Students’ Association, Vanessa Mobonzo Nzolo, said students condemn the “oppression and violence towards Palestinians by the Israeli government” in the continuing historical Israel-Palestine conflict.
She added: “We want to break the silence on campus – bringing the community together to learn more about the conflict, join campaigning and fundraising for the Palestinian struggle, and promote opportunities for open conversations. We have zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination.”
The Ferret reported last December that more than 200 academics at Glasgow University signed an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire to the “relentless bombardment” of Gaza that had killed 6,000 children at that point.
Main image: Israel Defense Forces
The continuing pattern of systematic destruction of Palestinian cities and infrastructure schools universities and killing of innocent children is genocide.