Birzeit University Strongly Condemns Israeli Attack on Islamic University in Gaza

Birzeit University condemns the Israeli occupation's attack on the Islamic University in Gaza Strip on Monday Oct 6, 2023, and the bombing of several university's buildings; including the Faculty of Information Technology building, the Deanship of Community Service and Continuing Education building, and the Faculty of Science building. The assault caused substantial damage to its equipment, laboratories, and furniture and shattered the glass and the exteriors of the university's buildings.

Birzeit views this infringement as a part of the numerous assaults of the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians, especially against their educational institutions. It is a blatant  violation of all international agreements, charters and treaties, which incriminate the violations of the sanctity of universities and educational institutions and hold the occupation forces accountable under the provisions and conventions of international humanitarian law that incur it to provide special protection to these institutes.

Birzeit reiterates the fact that these actions of the Israeli occupation will not break the will of the Palestinians, who clutch their right to to self-determination and national independence close to its heart. The Palestinian academic institutions will not be deterred by these Israeli assaults, and they will continue delivering their lofty mission of defending Palestinian rights, primarily the right to learn and education.

Birzeit University also expresses its sincere condolences to its staff and students, who, every day of the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, lose loved ones and relatives. It calls upon the international community and human rights institutions to intervene to halt the crimes and continued assault against our people in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the country and to provide them with international protection in accordance with international law.
Glory for martyrs, recovery for wounded ones, and freedom for the captives.