Canadian colleges, universities and academic communities are invited to support a letter urging higher education institutions to address escalating Israeli persecution of Palestinian academics in Gaza and destruction of vital education infrastructure. As critical Palestinian institutions and their leaders face systematic attacks, help demand action and accountability. Watch the CTVNews coverage HERE
Who Can Sign:
- GROUPS: Academic organizations, academic departments, academic groups and Unions.
- INDIVIDUALS: Professor, scientist, scholar, postdoc, researcher, instructor, student, college/university staff.
Contact: Info@JusticeForAllCanada.org
Confidentiality: ONLY the name or organization is published.
LETTER: We, the undersigned Canadian academics and students, find deeply alarming the recent Israeli attacks on academic institutions in Gaza. These have led to numerous killings of Palestinian students and scholars. The most shocking of these was the killing of Professor Sofyan Taya, a widely renowned scholar, Professor of Physics and President of the Islamic University of Gaza. Professor Taya was a widely-respected researcher who spent last year as a visiting guest scholar at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Professor Taya was killed, along with his daughter, sons and grandchildren while they were in their home located in Jebalia Refugee Camp. Professor Taya was among the top 2 percent of science researchers and was appointed the UNESCO Chair for Physics and Space Sciences in Palestine. While at Waterloo University, his research, which was highly impactful, focused on the detection of cancer cells and pathogens using photonic crystals and biosensors. Israeli bombs killed Professor Taya, along with his daughter, sons and grandchildren, while they were sheltering in their home in Jebalia Refugee Camp.
International law firmly establishes the right to education. Israel’s continuous targeting and bombardment of academic institutions in Palestine violates Palestinians’ fundamental rights to education. Numerous provisions of international law also protect universities from wanton attacks during wartime.
The persistent killing of children and youth and the destruction of educational institutions represent a deliberate effort to undermine the future of the Palestinian people and may constitute evidence of an intent to commit genocide. These actions destroy the potential for educational and societal development, systematically weakening the foundation upon which a thriving and forward-looking society can be built.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR), since the commencement of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israel has targeted vital education infrastructure, Palestinian academics and students across all of the Occupied Palestinian Territories; Gaza as well as the West Bank.
- Israel has killed thus far 439 individuals from university communities, including 427 students and 12 academics or university employees.
- Air raids and bombardment have destroyed 11 higher education buildings, in whole or in part, severely disrupting access to education for thousands of students.
- Israeli policies have disrupted access to in-person instruction for 138,000 students in 34 West Bank institutions. Its actions have deprived over 88,000 students in the Gaza Strip of receiving an education.
- Israel’s actions have prevented 555 students in the Gaza Strip from enrolling in scholarships abroad. As many as 5,000 Palestinian students studying abroad are now without financial support due to the loss of contact with families inside Gaza.
- There were 80 documented cases of arbitrary measures taken against students at universities and colleges.
To date, Israel has dropped at least 18,000 tons of bombs across Gaza, killing more than 15,500 civilians, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women. At least 36,000 civilians are injured, with more than 75% being children and women. Approximately 900,000 buildings across Gaza have suffered severe destruction and damage from Israeli bombardment, including places of worship, hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.
These crimes are in direct contravention of international law, which unequivocally protects civilian infrastructure, including physical facilities such as universities and schools that are directly connected to the right to education. International law also prohibits the deliberate targeting of the personnel of educational institutions during armed conflicts.
We call on Canadian universities, colleges, and educational institutions to take the following immediate and decisive actions to condemn these heinous acts.
- Advocate that the Canadian government calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, emphasizing the crucial need to safeguard academic institutions, their leaders and students.
- Issue an official statement condemning the intentional attacks on academic institutions, including the airstrike on the universities of Gaza and the tragic killing of Professor Sofyan Taya.
- Establish a scholarship fund in the memory of Professor Sofyan Taya at Canadian universities and colleges.
- Engage with international bodies, including UNESCO, to ensure a coordinated response to protect Palestinian academic institutions under attack.
- Establish institutional relationships with Palestinian universities in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to assist the Palestinians fulfill their right under international law to education.
Canadian colleges and universities have pioneered in their dedication to pursuing knowledge and protecting human rights. Therefore, your leadership and support are crucial in condemning these atrocities and fostering a global environment that upholds the principles of respect for the human dignity of Palestinian academics and students.
The undersigned professors,
Abdelrazik Sebak, Professor, Concordia U
Adam Rahman, Associate Professor, Western University
Ahmed Bayoumi, Professor, University of Toronto
Ahmed El-Geneidy, Professor, McGill University
Aimen Naeem, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine
Alan NS, Professor, Centennial
Alex Be, Professor, OU
Ali Iqbal, Assistant Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Aliya Khan, Clinical Professor, McMaster University
Amaly Rahman, Professor
Ameil Joseph, Associate Professor, McMaster University
Amer Shalaby, Professor, University of Toronto
Amita Dhanda, Professor Emerita
Anna Kramer, McGill University, Assistant Professor
Asad Khaja, Instructor, Sheridan College
Ashraf Badawi, Professor, Cairo University
Asma Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Niagara University
Ayad A. Sulaibi, Assistant Prof., University of Anbar
Ayad Rezak, Professor, URCA
Ayman Oweida, Université de Sherbrooke, Professor / Canada Research Chair
Baher Abdulhai, Professor, University of Toronto
BENDJEDDOU Ahmed, Professor, University
Bilal Momani, Professor, Mohawk college
Cheriet, Professor, University of Quebec's Ecole de technologie Sueprieure
Christo El Morr, Professor, York University
Diana Allan, McGill University, Associate Professor
Baljit Nagra, Associate professor, University of Ottawa
Mariam Munawar, Lecturer, McMaster University
Nouman ali, Professor, Dalhousie University
Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, Professor and Senior EDI Advisor, Sheridan College
Eisar Al-Sukhni, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Esam Mahdi, Assistant Professor, U of T
Faisal Shaheen, Lecturer, Toronto Metropolitan University
Fatma, Professor/ instructor, University of Windsor
Ferdous Islam, Professor, Centennial College
Gehad Hamad, Professor, King's University College at UWO
Gilbert Achcar, Professor, SOAS, University of London
Hesham Rakha, Professor, Virginia Tech
Hoda Fahmy, Professor, Sheridan College
Idriss Bedja, Professor, King Saud University
Ila Varma, U of T, Professor and Mathematician
Jack Sidnell, U of T, Professor
Jalal Kawash, Professor, University of Calgary
James Deutsch, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Jasmin Zine, Wilfrid Laurier University, Professor
Jill Glessing, TMU, Professor
Jillian Rogin, University of Windsor, Associate Professor
Kaleem Siddiqi, Professor, McGill Universe
Karim S Karim, Professor, Waterloo
Kevin Moloney, York University, instructor
Khaled Nigim, Professor, LAMBTON COLLEGE
Larbi Talbi, Professeur, Université du Québec
Lina Kattan, Professor, OofC
Luin Goldring, York University, Professor
Maen Husein, Professor, UofC
Malek Abisaab, Associate Professor, McGill University
Maryam Hosein, Postgrad Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, UofT
Mathew Hannouche, Assistant Professor, McGill University
Melad Olaimat, Visiting scholar, UW
Mervat Bakeer, Adjunct prof at UWO, UWO, SJHC
Michelle Hartman, McGill University, Professor
Mohamad Saad, Professor, UQAT
Mohamed Elrayess, University, Professor
Mohamed Ouda, Professor, CNA
Mohammad Fadel, Professor, University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Mohammed Afzal, Professor, Western University
Mohammed Almazloum, Professor, Western University
Mousa Hussein, Professor, UAE University
Moustafa M Fahmy, Professor Emeritus, Queen’s University
Muhammad Khan, Professional, Uok
Muhammad Munshi, Adjunct Assistant Professor, U of T
Nabil Sultan, Associate Professor, Western University
Nadia Abu-Zahra, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Nadia Mohammad, GBC, Professor
Naser E., Professor, IUG
Nashaat Nassar, Professor, University of Calgary
Naved Bakali, University of Windsor, Professor
Norma Rantisi , Concordia University, Professor
Ohood Elzibak, Instructor, McMaster University
Omar M. Ramahi, Professor, University of Waterloo
Roohi Qureshi, Lecturer, University of Toronto
Ruby Alvi, Assistant Professor, UofT
Saeid Saidi, University of Calgary, Assistant Professor
Sahar hijazi, Professor, Lebanese university
Said Osman , Western University, Associate Professor
Said, Professor, TMU
Samar ADHAM, Professor, Lebanese University
Shabbir Amanullah, Asst Prof, Woodstock
Soma Chatterjee , York University, Associate Professor
Sumayya Kassamali, University of Toronto, Assistant Professor
Tarek Hegazy, Professor, University of Waterloo
William Clare Roberts , McGill University, Professor of Political Science
Zoë H Wool, University of Toronto, Professor
Zuhra Abawi, Assistant Professor, Niagara University
