Universities Are Ending Complicity in Israeli Apartheid and Its Gaza Genocide in Numbers Never Seen Before
Global campus mobilizations for Palestinian rights have compelled dozens of universities across the world to commit to steps toward divestment from complicit companies and/or cutting ties with complicit Israeli academic institutions.
The student-led and faculty-supported mobilizations to end Israel’s genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and its underlying system of settler-colonial apartheid are making incredible strides that were unthinkable just a few months ago.
In response to the Palestinian call, reiterated most recently by 15 Palestinian universities, to end all complicity in Israel’s crimes and to urgently prevent Israel from continuing and escalating its Gaza genocide, campus mobilizations have compelled dozens of universities across the world to commit to steps toward divestment from complicit companies and/or cutting ties with complicit Israeli academic institutions.
In nearly 20 years of campaigning, never have we seen so many gains in such a short period of time. This is the result of the current wave of inspiring student encampments, building on years of mobilizing. The encampments shout to university administrators and governments that students and faculty members will not stand by as Israel commits its livestreamed genocide with impunity and with the support of their own institutions.
Universities have agreed to suspend or review ties with complicit Israeli academic institutions, including in Norway, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and South Africa. In the Spanish state, the Conference of University Rectors, comprising 76 universities, committed to suspending collaborations with Israeli universities that are not in “compliance with international humanitarian law.” This means all of them.
A number of universities in Europe and North America have agreed to divest, while still others have committed to taking steps toward divestment from complicit companies, including Israel’s arms industry.
Faculty associations from Australia to North America have also voted to boycott complicit Israeli universities and/or to divest from complicit companies.
None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of conscientious students and faculty members, often in the face of shameful and violent repression.
Through it all, students and faculty have kept front and center the comprehensive rights of the Indigenous Palestinian people and ending complicity in Israel’s Gaza genocide and apartheid.
The mobilizations have given Palestinians hope, in very dark times, as can be seen from the messages from Gaza. They also set the stage for further measures to end complicity in apartheid Israel’s Gaza genocide.
We trust in students and faculty members to continue to hold university administrations accountable, especially those who have committed to but not yet ended their institutions’ academic and financial complicity.
As many students have said, this is the beginning, not the end. We will not stop. We will not rest.
Below is a round up of divestment and academic boycott measures taken over just the past months. We will continue to update this page as news of additional incremental wins come in. Please send news to: pacbi@bdsmovement.net
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study commits to:
- refuse funding from Israel;
- not participate in activities organized or sponsored by Israel;
- not invite official representatives of Israel to its events or venues.https://t.co/qYiNdCRAEv pic.twitter.com/1fqocULGCg— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 7, 2024
10 faculty unions at universities in Canada have voted motions calling on their institutions to boycott and divest from institutions and corporations complicit in Israel's grave violations of Palestinian rights and international law. pic.twitter.com/IW1f8e6rSa
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 6, 2024
UPDATE: Center for Research & Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico cuts ties with complicit Tel Aviv University following student and faculty mobilizations.
CIDE had previously condemned Israel’s #GazaGenocide and its scholasticide against Palestinians.https://t.co/PIwqNbmDk9 pic.twitter.com/0rfg6CO1Q2
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 6, 2024
University of Valencia:
- pledges no ties with complicit Israeli universities until Israel ends its #GazaGenocide and crimes against humanity against Palestinians
- urges @EU_Commission to exclude Israel from research its funding programs https://t.co/Qe7LANQi3J pic.twitter.com/ZVHcWChyth— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 6, 2024
Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam suspends exchange agreements with complicit Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and Jerusalem School of Visual Theater over “sufficient doubt whether the academies can operate independently from the Israeli government.”https://t.co/SDbCOkVuzE pic.twitter.com/Bo1jZTv1uk
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 4, 2024
“I can no longer remain associated with @UAL.”
Acclaimed photographer @shahidul Alam returns honorary doctorate to University of the Arts London over complicity in Israel’s #GazaGenocide and in solidarity with student mobilizations for Palestinian rights.https://t.co/o6FBqlwvVP pic.twitter.com/mv9L5Y4qKC
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 4, 2024
Autonomous University of Barcelona Academic Senate votes (116:6) to end ties with all companies and Israeli universities complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights and its #GazaGenocide.
That means all Israeli universities! https://t.co/UHFadNoGHU pic.twitter.com/ngHnvI7pQ7
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 2, 2024
University of Helsinki suspends exchange programs with complicit Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University.
All Israeli universities are deeply complicit in Israel's 76-year apartheid rule and #GazaGenocide against 2.3M Palestinians. https://t.co/DHrmnnNlal pic.twitter.com/GwB1Nf90HV
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 2, 2024
Vrije Universiteit Brussel to withdraw from @HorizonEU project involving 2 complicit Israeli entities. Will review all projects with complicit Israeli entities.@EU_Commission must exclude genocidal apartheid Israel from all research funding programs!https://t.co/cVNvbX33Gk pic.twitter.com/r1es1jF60N
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) June 1, 2024
University of Antwerp suspends collaboration with companies & Israeli universities complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights, its #GazaGenocide, and “interrelated nature of Israeli partner institutions with the country’s military authorities.”https://t.co/b4lVokMGI1 pic.twitter.com/eshLIOFncP
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 31, 2024
Groundbreaking update: After committing to cut ties with 3 Israeli academic institutions, Ghent University will now cut ties with *all* Israeli universities.
It also commits leading the call for the EU to exclude Israel from EU research funding programs.https://t.co/8LNIygWK3N pic.twitter.com/IQ7rihKlRi
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 31, 2024
University of Ljubljana Academic Senate votes (30:0) not to join projects that include Israeli universities with “possible connections to military structures.”
Israeli universities host military bases & joint research centers with the Israeli military.https://t.co/NTfduXSgkP pic.twitter.com/bGcHc8PtOU
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 29, 2024
Ghent University rector calls to cut ties with 3 complicit Israeli academic institutions over complicity in Israel's #GazaGenocide, as they were assessed to be "(very) problematic" by the university's Human Rights Policy and Dual Use Research Committee.https://t.co/Y9ofj88TDq pic.twitter.com/mfGE1k6nkz
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 29, 2024
Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico to suspend agreement with Tel Aviv University following student mobilizations.
CIDE condemns Israel’s #GazaGenocide and its scholasticide against Palestinian education.https://t.co/eFZoPMEeYk pic.twitter.com/hSKjlv6PAm
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 24, 2024
National Autonomous University of Mexico to suspend ties with Israeli universities complicit in int'l law violations.
*All* Israeli universities persistently & systematically play a key role in Israel’s grave violations of int'l law & Palestinian rights.https://t.co/VUkiJ6i3bq pic.twitter.com/pjiWHkayaD
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 24, 2024
University of Chile Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities ends ties with complicit Israeli universities over Israel’s #GazaGenocide.
The faculty states that all institutional ties must “always and unconditionally” be predicated on respect for human rights.https://t.co/fXM9BK542h pic.twitter.com/xWdPN4sHBt
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 24, 2024
We are profoundly moved by the firm stance made by the @UniBarcelona to end ties with Israel’s #GazaGenocide and its underlying “structural causes” inflicting suffering on the Palestinian people.https://t.co/VLX0GNhj3Z pic.twitter.com/wEgJefufuX
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 24, 2024
"All red lines have been crossed."
University of Oviedo cuts ties with Hebrew University (HUJI) following mobilizations by @UniOviPalestina.
HUJI boasts of providing “diverse logistics equipment to several military units” for Israel's #GazaGenocide. https://t.co/DtIbeegDBc pic.twitter.com/xiAV0lWADL
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 19, 2024
University of Granada suspends research & mobility agreements with complicit Israeli universities following student encampment.
The university pledges not to enter into any new agreements with complicit Israeli universities, organizations or institutions.https://t.co/DcWgZ2YslT pic.twitter.com/nae7j4DSlm
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 18, 2024
The Trustees of the Union Theological Seminary, which has a partnership with Columbia University, have endorsed divestment from companies profiting from Israel's #GazaGenocide against 2.3 million Palestinians.https://t.co/twivVSKw5r pic.twitter.com/wFoTCWvvAm
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 16, 2024
.@sacstate commits to investigating divestment from “corps & funds that profit from genocide, ethnic cleansing, and activities that violate fundamental human rights.”
Students are making gains that sustain our struggle for Palestinian rights and an end to Israel's #GazaGenocide. pic.twitter.com/5FKexvV6TF
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 14, 2024
The Dutch Royal Academy of Art (KABK) to cut ties with Israel's Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design, following student mobilizations.
KABK is the first higher ed institution in the Netherlands to support the Palestinian call to end ties with complicit Israeli institutions. pic.twitter.com/yIX5AthOiQ
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 14, 2024
BREAKING: 76 universities in Spain suspend ties with complicit Israeli universities in a groundbreaking decision by the Conference of University Rectors.https://t.co/tfL70qRfxI pic.twitter.com/tMuiLwCATp
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 10, 2024
6 faculty unions at universities in Canada have voted motions calling on their institutions to boycott and divest from institutions and corporations complicit in Israel's grave violations of Palestinian rights and international law. pic.twitter.com/6LR9ijWrKx
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 10, 2024
Amherst College Faculty votes motion urging Board of Trustees to divest from companies supplying military equipment used in Israel's #GazaGenocide.
Amherst Student Senate had earlier voted for divestment.
This marks a growing trend of faculty and students calls for divestment. pic.twitter.com/W2OJsI3Ckh
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 9, 2024
.@sydney_uni @NTEUnion branch voted by an overwhelming 93% in support of the Palestinian call to end institutional ties with all complicit Israeli universities. The faculty union also voted to cut ties with the weapons industry in general.https://t.co/iP6cOOQIfz#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/XzfiAJOnr6
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 9, 2024
University of Barcelona Council votes to end all ties with complicit Israeli academic institutions & companies over Israel's #GazaGenocide.
Students who mobilized for this historic result vow to maintain encampment until the administration implements all points. https://t.co/pNJVLBpiPu
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 8, 2024
.@holy_cross faculty vote for divestment from companies complicit in Israel's "ongoing #GazaGenocide, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, & in violation of int'l law." pic.twitter.com/fcvhJ8G6qd
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 8, 2024
6 months of protests
5 weeks of occupation
and a flash encampmentby @Gold4Palestine pushed @GoldsmithsUoL to concede to student demands for Palestinian rights, including an ethical investment policy, agreeing that its "ethical investment policy must be reviewed and revised." pic.twitter.com/detZSQ04ET
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 6, 2024
Pomona College Faculty vote (64%) for divestment from companies complicit in Israel's violations of Palestinian rights!
We urge faculty unions to work to end all ties to companies & Israeli universities complicit in Israel's #GazaGenocide & apartheid.https://t.co/t47pPaiHxR pic.twitter.com/HGWt41yoiq
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) May 4, 2024
The University of the Basque Country commits to no institutional ties with companies or Israeli universities complicit in Israel's "crimes against humanity" and that "do not respect human rights, international law or UN resolutions regarding Palestinians."https://t.co/9I1JRv50EO pic.twitter.com/3WxY0AIh0Y
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 26, 2024
Following student & faculty mobilizations, University of Cape Town Senate votes to refuse ties with "any research group and/or network whose author affiliations are with the Israeli Defence Force, and/or the broader Israeli military establishment" over Israel's #GazaGenocide. pic.twitter.com/WZIJ1W5MEg
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 23, 2024
University of Milan suspends agreement with illegal Israeli settlement-based Ariel University and pledges not to renew it following student mobilizations.
Students now call on UniMI to end ties with Reichman University over its complicity in Israel apartheid and genocide. pic.twitter.com/MXahDkWTNQ
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 19, 2024
Pitzer College makes history once again, as the College Council votes by 71% for full institutional boycott of Israeli universities over their complicity in Israel's regime of military occupation, apartheid & now genocide, against millions of Palestinians.https://t.co/y0qIlrR3Vx pic.twitter.com/7yqTGcboel
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 15, 2024
The Academic Senate of prestigious La Scuola Normale in Pisa voted a motion urging Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry to reconsider scientific research call with Israel over its #GazaGenocide. pic.twitter.com/1QodJ4M5SK
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 3, 2024
We welcome news that Pitzer College has closed its study abroad program with Haifa University following years of campaigning.
Pitzer College is the first US higher education institution to enact a significant measure of the academic boycott of Israel.https://t.co/pClzY1FiQy pic.twitter.com/npAaTKOWqU
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) April 2, 2024
With just one opposing vote, the University of Torino Academic Senate resolves not to participate in scientific research call with complicit Israeli institutions over Israel's #GazaGenocide.https://t.co/WDTFoRQUYF pic.twitter.com/KsmoTCcXyN
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) March 25, 2024
In light of Israel's #GazaGenocide, the University of Girona commits to reviewing all agreements with Israeli universities based on its ethical code and statutes, which include the principles of freedom and equality and exclude military research.https://t.co/g7zknnlnux pic.twitter.com/jy90kAL4yw
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) March 6, 2024
The University of Antwerp Law Faculty Council has decided by consensus to halt a cooperation agreement with Bar-Ilan University over Israel's violations of int'l law in Gaza and Bar-Ilan University's unwavering support for Israel's military assault. https://t.co/5ylBiiyHVW pic.twitter.com/V65D5pLzRU
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) January 26, 2024
Today, on International #EducationDay, we remind the academic community that as part of its #GazaGenocide, Israel is targeting Palestinian education.
Israeli universities are complicit.
The Palestinian call to boycott complicit Israeli universities is more urgent than ever. pic.twitter.com/MTTnavgLIY
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) January 24, 2024
Palestinians welcome the decision of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC - @ufcinforma) in Brazil to cancel the “Innovation Challenge Brazil – Israel” over Israel’s military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza.https://t.co/lDbZkBFlcz#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/vEjdL6s6jE
— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) January 11, 2024
