Israeli occupation’s abhorrent crimes requires immediate international intervention to provide protection for the Palestinian academic institutions

Palestinian national figures and civil society organizations have condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ criminal assault on Birzeit University on 10 January 2022, calling on the international community to intervene to provide protection to Palestinian academic and cultural institutions 

 

In a statement sent to the “Syriatimes” e-newspaper, the 33 undersigned national figures and civil society organizations, vehemently condemn the Israeli occupation forces’ criminal assault on Birzeit University on 10 January 2022. 

 

“The Israeli forces raided – namely, the Birzeit University campus, firing live ammunition, injuring students, and abducting and detaining several of them. We hold the occupation authorities fully responsible for the safety of the incarcerated students and demand their immediate release”, the statement said. 

 

It added: “This abhorrent crime requires immediate international intervention to provide protection for the Palestinan people as well as Palestinian academic and cultural institutions. It also requires that all Palestinians, individuals and organizations, to rally to the defense of Birzeit University, a distinguished national and academic institution. Birzeit University prides itself on its established and rich history of political and intellectual diversity and inclusion, while practicing and defending participatory democracy, making it a cornerstone in Palestinian resilience as well as the resistance to the occupation.”

 

The statement called for focusing our collective efforts and energies on confronting the Israeli aggression and denying the occupier the opportunity to undermine and weaken our institutions or meddle in our internal affairs.

 

“We also urge for continued internal dialogue within the university and in a manner that guarantees the resolution of any internal disputes and allows for the prompt resumption of academic life on campus,” it concluded. 

 

 

Hanan Ashrawi

 

Azmi Al-Shuaibi

 

Mamdouh Al-Aker

 

Hani Al-Masri

 

Abdelqader Al-Husseini

 

Shawan Jabarin

 

Ammar Dweik

 

Issam Arouri

 

Majida Al-Masri

 

Mohamed Al-Aboushi

 

Muhram Al-Barghouthi

 

Sami Khader

 

Mahmoud Al-Ifranji

 

Abdallah Jarrar

 

Ubai Aboudi

 

Tahrir Al-Araj

 

Abdelfattah Abu Surour

 

Amjad Al-Shawa

 

Hilmi Al-Araj

 

Sanaa Shubeita

 

Mohamad Salameh

 

Khaled Kuzmar

 

Fadwa Al-Husseini

 

Munjed Abu Jeish

 

Fuad Abu Seif

 

Mohamad Al-Hasasneh

 

Sahar Francis

 

Issam Younis

 

Alaa Skafi

 

Lily Feidy

 

Honaisa Ghanem

 

Palestinian NGO Network

 

Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council

 

 

Basma Qaddour