PSC utterly condemns yesterday’s attack on Birzeit University in the illegally occupied West Bank. The Israeli military invaded in the middle of the day, destroying the university’s main gate, and firing live ammunition, tear gas and stun grenades at students and staff. At least forty students and academics have been injured, including five who have been hospitalised with gunshot wounds. Read Birzeit University’s full statement here.

This attack is part of Israel’s deliberate strategy of scholasticide – the destruction of Palestinian identity and history through the violation of its universities, education and teaching. Palestinian universities are regularly targeted by the Israeli military, in blatant infringement of international law that enshrines the right to an education and protects students and academics.  

The university should be a place of learning, where students – often against all the odds – go to pursue education and teaching. Seeing Birzeit turned into a warzone by occupying military violence is horrific and should draw condemnation from the academic community across the world.  

Our research has found that British universities collectively invest almost £460 million in companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and apartheid. No academic institutions should maintain links with a state that shows such contempt for international law and human rights. Students and workers across the country are demanding that their universities divest and end all ties that enable Israel’s horrific crimes to continue. We join them in calling for all institutions to end their investments in Israel’s violence, occupation and genocide, and we call on the British government to immediately impose a full arms embargo and sanctions on Israel.