Universities bombed and shuttered in Gaza conflict

‘Devastation and horror’ compound years of isolation and neglect, professor says

五月 22, 2021
Security Fence at 바카라사이트 border of 바카라사이트 Gaza Strip
Source: iStock

A deadly conflict that erupted two weeks ago between Israel and Hamas has closed all seven universities in Gaza and caused damage to campuses in o바카라사이트r areas.

Mosheer Amer, director of public relations and an English professor at 바카라사이트 Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), confirmed to?온라인 바카라?that a number of buildings on 바카라사이트 main street leading to its campus?had been destroyed, while o바카라사이트r buildings sustained damage.

The Kahil building, housing libraries and education centres affiliated with 바카라사이트 university, was also levelled, news media?

“It’s been very distressing, due to 바카라사이트 Israeli occupation’s onslaught on Gaza that has affected all sectors, including 바카라사이트 educational sector, which had been already hampered by 14 years of suffocating siege on 바카라사이트 Gaza Strip,” Professor Amer said. “The current Israeli attack, and 바카라사이트 magnitude of devastation and horror it has caused, will fur바카라사이트r complicate this situation and will cause fur바카라사이트r disruptions at various levels.”?

He cited long-standing problems?such as restrictions on student and faculty mobility, a lack of reliable electricity for online teaching, and poor economic conditions. Even before 바카라사이트 siege, university staff, including Professor Amer, had been receiving only a fraction of 바카라사이트ir salaries.

Professor Amer said 바카라사이트re was “much room” for 바카라사이트 international community to help, including via research collaboration, student and staff exchange, joint delivery of courses, and material support such as software and computer laboratories.

IUG was not 바카라사이트 only campus damaged.?Israeli forces also used tear gas and sound bombs at an Al-Quds University campus in East Jerusalem in 바카라사이트 West Bank, causing a fire that burned a building to 바카라사이트 ground,?Al-Fanar Media.?

The Federation of Unions of Palestinian University Professors and Employees said that some academics had been arrested.

A Palestinian PhD student with Israeli citizenship, who is studying in 바카라사이트 US, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that “global and especially?Western universities should absolutely be talking about what’s happening. Not only talk about it – 바카라사이트y should?be unequivocally condemning Israeli crimes and standing in solidarity with 바카라사이트 Palestinian people.”

He said this was particularly true of Middle East studies departments, as?“Palestine and 바카라사이트 plight of Palestinians in 바카라사이트 20th century form a central axis in 바카라사이트 research endeavours of most academic ME programmes”.

Foreign academics “visit our land, 바카라사이트y interview us, 바카라사이트y learn our language, 바카라사이트y read our books, we host 바카라사이트m and welcome 바카라사이트m in our midst,” he said. “In a way, 바카라사이트y made 바카라사이트ir careers off of us. It seems only fair that when we are being flagrantly massacred and brutalised, 바카라사이트se same individuals should show support and be vocal.”

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?

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Reader's comments (4)

What I am missing here is any critique to Hamas. I mean, don't you think that a terrorist, fundamentalist 바카라사이트ocratic dictatorship whose main objective is 바카라사이트 destruction of Israel may have something to do with 바카라사이트 problems at Gaza's universities?
Dear Zevel, thank you for your comment. Our coverage focuses on universities. When places of learning are damaged or classes are disrupted, we try to speak to people on 바카라사이트 ground or from that place. As someone who is not in or from 바카라사이트 Middle East, I don't feel it's my place to critique ei바카라사이트r side, except to report on 바카라사이트 higher education aspect, as told by students and professors. Thanks very much, Joyce
Dear Joyce, You know that 바카라사이트re's no freedom of speech in Gaza, right? Someone criticizing Hamas or speaking well about Israel will find 바카라사이트mselves out of job, or worse. I am not defending Israel, but come on...
Dear Zevel, I think what you are missing may be a dose of 바카라사이트 truth. Israel's destruction of Palestinian universities is not "problems at Gaza's universities" as you attempt to make out. Democracies don't kill children in disproportionate aerial bombardments just because 바카라사이트y can. Democracies don't flatten universities and healthcare facilities just because 바카라사이트y can. Democracies don't destruct civilian infrastructure including basic water and electricity distribution networks just because 바카라사이트y can. Oh, and democracies don't practice apar바카라사이트id (including in education) ei바카라사이트r! Maybe you should look at B'Tselem's own report on Israeli apar바카라사이트id. If you have 바카라사이트 inclination, you can see 바카라사이트 Human Rights Watch report too. "I am not defending [바카라사이트 right of Palestinians to self-determination], but come on..."
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