The situation in Palestine

DCU's Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (CHRCE) champions educational policy and practice which promotes human rights, children’s rights, global justice and environmental sustainability.  The members of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (CHRCE) extend their solidarity to those mourning the loss of their loved ones in both Palestine and Israel. As a Centre committed to peace,  we oppose violence of all kinds, including the destruction of lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. We strongly condemn the ongoing violence by the Israeli state against the civilians in the West Bank. Furthermore, we oppose the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as in the Syrian Golan Heights. These settlements are illegal under international law and are in violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and in breach of international declarations (International Court of Justice, 2024; United Nations, 2024b).  

We condemn past acts of epistemicide and scholasticide which targeted schools and other educational infrastructure. This has resulted in the partial or full destruction of all university campuses in Gaza and 80% of schools are now damaged or destroyed (UN, 2024a). We stand in solidarity with Palestinian scholars and students as we support the calls for an academic boycott of Israeli educational institutions. 

We call for immediate and proper aid infrastructure and humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza and for Israel to uphold its obligations under international law. As a Centre committed to the promotion of human rights and the protection of the right to education, we call upon the international community to provide urgent support for education in Gaza. As educators, we ask for the global education community to join us in these calls and to honour Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: the right to education that promotes respect for human rights, peace and responsible citizenship; thus educating others on the current situation in Palestine and shining a light on these issues. 

References

International Court of Justice. (2024, 19 July). Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19 July. https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176

United Nations. (2024, 18 April). Gaza: UN experts decry ‘systemic obliteration’ of education system. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148716 

United Nations. (2024, 19 July). Summary of the ICJ Advisory Opinion- Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/summary-of-the-icj-order-icj-19jul24/