Image Source: Reuters
Palestine -The destruction of Gaza’s institutions, particularly its education system, has sparked global outrage as Israeli military strikes deliberately target schools and universities. Beyond demolishing schools that provided refuge to displaced Palestinian families, these attacks have killed countless Palestinian civilians, including women and children.
These assaults by Israel do more than deprive Palestinians of safe spaces—they aim to dismantle the intellectual and cultural backbone of Palestinian society, turning education into both a casualty and a battleground in the ongoing genocide.
Roshan Dadoo, a Palestinian activist and coordinator of the South African BDS Coalition, highlighted that these attacks on Gaza’s education system reflect a deliberate long-term strategy by Israel.
In Gaza, education has always been a pillar of empowerment and resistance, making the destruction of academic spaces profoundly devastating. The bombardment seeks not only to cripple intellectual growth but also to erase a long-standing tradition of learning essential to Palestinian identity and survival.
By targeting schools and universities, these actions cut off avenues for thought and progress, denying Palestinians the tools needed to resist oppression and envision a freer future.
“It’s important to note that the targeting of education, including schools and universities, is part of a long-term assault on Palestinian education by the apartheid Israeli state. In fact, it was a Palestinian academic who coined the term “scholasticide” to describe the systematic destruction of Palestinian education by Israel.”
“She explains that the term reflects efforts to undermine a tradition of Palestinian learning, which has historically highlighted the role and power of education within an occupied society—where freedom of thought fosters possibilities, opens horizons, and stands in stark contrast to the apartheid walls, oppressive checkpoints, and suffocating prisons.”
“This idea of education as a site of resistance has been deeply embedded in Palestinian society, even before the devastation of Gaza’s education system since the start of the genocide. The term “scholasticide” is especially relevant now, as it captures the ongoing attempts to suppress resistance through the destruction of education.”
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Worldwide Academic boycotts
In response to Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s education system, universities, students, and academics worldwide have become vocal supporters of academic boycotts. These boycotts and student-led encampments aim to cut institutional, financial, and academic ties with Israeli universities and institutions complicit in the Palestinian occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
While global support has grown, Dadoo pointed out that many South African universities have been slow to adopt these measures, with national academic bodies still resisting calls for action. However, some institutions have made significant progress by passing resolutions in favour of academic boycotts, even at the risk of losing donor funding for specific programs and research initiatives.
“So many universities are passing resolutions, which I think is very significant because university senates are large bodies, and these resolutions require a vote. This means people need to mobilise in different ways ahead of time.”
“On various campuses, Palestine solidarity student groups have been actively working to gather support, knowing that winning a vote demands widespread backing.”
“It’s also encouraging to see people who may not typically be involved in activism stepping up when it matters. Academics, in particular, should be at the forefront of championing freedom of speech and ensuring they are not complicit in genocide.”
