Canadian Academia Unites Against Targeting of Palestinian Universities: Urgent Call for Ceasefire​

As part of a joint initiative alongside advocacy group Justice For All Canada, they are mobilizing support in an open letter addressed to Canadian colleges and universities. Professors, faculty members, students, and alums from colleges and universities nationwide are invited to sign the letter by Sunday, December 17th.

The recent escalation of attacks on Palestinian academic institutions intensifies the urgent plea for immediate, collective action. This escalation impacts an entire educational system and critical infrastructure, where hundreds of educators and students were killed. A painful symbol of these attacks is the devastating loss of Professor Sofyan Taya, a distinguished physicist and President of the Islamic University of Gaza. He was killed by an Israeli airstrike, along with members of his family, on December 2nd. The shock of his death has galvanized academic leaders in Canada and worldwide to demand justice. Professor Taya was a widely cited researcher with over 126 research publications. Professor Taya was among the top 2 percent of global science researchers and was appointed the UNESCO Chair for Physics and Space Sciences in Palestine. At the University of Waterloo as a visiting scholar last year, his impactful research focused on detecting and treating cancer cells.

The right to education in Palestine is under severe threat as Israel indiscriminately targets and bombards academic institutions. These actions violate numerous legal provisions explicitly shielding universities from wanton attacks during wartime. This relentless assault on education and the calculated killing of students and professors is a deliberate effort to undermine the future of the Palestinian people. It may even constitute evidence of an intent to commit genocide, systematically eroding the potential for educational and societal development by weakening the foundation upon which a thriving and forward-looking society can be built.

Since the beginning of hostilities on October 7, 2023, the impact on education has been unparalleled.

439 individuals from universities have been killed, including 427 students and 12 academics or employees.
Air raids and bombardment have destroyed 11 higher education buildings, severely disrupting access to education facilities for over 88,000 students in the Gaza Strip and 138,000 students in 34 West Bank institutions.
555 students in Gaza have been deprived of enrolling in scholarships abroad.
As many as 5,000 Palestinian students studying abroad are without financial support due to the loss of contact with families inside Gaza.
Documented cases reveal 80 instances of arbitrary measures against students. The sheer scale of destruction is further amplified by at least 18,000 tons of bombs dropped across Gaza, killing more than 15,500 civilians, 6,150 children and 4,000 women. Over 75% of the 36,000 civilians injured are children and women.
Approximately 900,000 buildings suffered severe destruction and damage, including places of worship, hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.

The joint letter ultimately calls on Canadian higher education institutions to unequivocally endorse a ceasefire to protect academic communities and students directly threatened by ongoing airstrikes and bombardment. This letter will also be submitted to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.