Motion on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip

The University of Brescia, faced with the continuing grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip caused by Israeli military action, reiterating its outrage already expressed in the days following the unacceptable attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has adopted this motion, approved unanimously by the teaching, technical-administrative staff, and students, by the Academic Senate at its meeting on September 22.

Motion on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip

The University of Brescia reaffirms with conviction its commitment to promoting peace and the essential protection of human rights and dignity. These values, which form the basis of the Constitution of the Italian Republic, are an integral part of our University's mission and are embodied, among other things, in the activities of the University Center "University for Peace" and in our active membership in the Network of Italian Universities for Peace (RUNIPACE), dedicated to the promotion of active citizenship, development cooperation, mediation, and peaceful conflict management. In view of the continuing Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, the University, reiterating its outrage at the unacceptable criminal attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, feels a moral and institutional duty to join firmly with the voices of numerous Italian and international universities, as well as representatives of civil society around the world. Furthermore, in light of the recent ground offensive on Gaza City, the University strongly condemns the serious and unacceptable violations of human rights and international law, including the use of hunger as a weapon of war, the arbitrary occupation of territories, and the forced evacuation of the civilian population. The academic community is, in fact, aware that the responsibility of knowledge implies the duty to take a clear stance and condemn without hesitation all forms of unjustified violence, especially when perpetrated against defenseless civilians. For this reason, the University strongly demands:

-an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue between the peoples, overcoming the idea that war is the only means of resolving conflicts;

-the release of all hostages, both Israeli and Palestinian;

-the guarantee of effective humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian population, in accordance with international law.

The University supports its request by taking concrete actions to support the Palestinian people and promoting a culture of peace. For this reason, in recent months, the University has joined the "IUPALS Project - Italian Universities for Palestinian Students" coordinated by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI), establishing scholarships for Palestinian students residing in the territories involved in the conflict and now deprived of safe places for education and study. In addition, the University is committed to:

-promoting academic, scientific, and cultural relations with Palestinian institutions, increasing student and faculty mobility, inter-university cooperation projects, and solidarity initiatives;

-ensuring attention to the University's academic and scientific collaborations by verifying their compliance with the principles of international law and research ethics, including in relation to projects with potential dual use and activities linked to entities involved in documented violations and to companies in the war industry that have interests in conflicts currently taking place around the world;

-intensify opportunities for reflection and spaces for debate open to the university community in order to promote the formation of a culture of peace.

In line with what has already been expressed by other Italian universities, the University of Brescia is taking action to promote a unified and shared position at the CRUI headquarters in support of peace, the protection of human rights, and respect for international law.