On the 20th of May, 2024, over 150 Palestinian academics and staff from Gaza universities issued a statement affirming their existence and collective determination to resume teaching and study in Gaza, at their own institutions, despite the destruction of the higher education sector by Israeli military forces. In order to resist the ongoing scholasticide, they called on international support in order to reopen the universities in Gaza at the earliest opportunity. 

We are forming this international Emergency Committee for Universities in Gaza to respond to this urgent call. The Emergency Committee has been established by Al Aqsa University, Al Azhar University and the Islamic University of Gaza, the three largest public universities in Gaza, which between them represent the majority of students and academics. The work of the Emergency Committee is facilitated by international colleagues.

The Emergency Committee will be dedicated to serving the collective needs of Gaza universities during this emergency period by mobilizing international support for their rebuilding and working to ensure that assistance is provided in partnership with Gaza universities so that teaching and study resumes at higher education institutions in Gaza at the earliest opportunity.