Avi Shlaim: Scholasticide in Gaza
Professor Avi Shlaim has published an article, Scholasticide in Gaza, in the prestigious Journal of the British Academy on the deliberate eradication of the entire education system in Gaza from kindergartens to universities: a process he describes as Scholasticide.
He summarises the article as:
This article examines the concept of ‘scholasticide’, the deliberate destruction of an educational system and its institutions, in the context of Gaza. Tracing its historical roots to the Nakba of 1948, the article situates scholasticide within the broader context of Zionist settler-colonialism and its policies of de-development, collective punishment, and ethnic cleansing. The analysis pays special attention to the annihilation of Gaza’s schools, universities, and academic infrastructure throughout the most recent war in Gaza, whilst exploring the intertwined phenomena of cultural genocide, domicide, and ecocide. Contrary to prevailing beliefs about the nature and legitimacy of Israeli attacks on Gaza’s educational system and broader infrastructure, the article invokes international law to argue that Israeli actions were disproportionate, unjustified, and importantly, unlawful.
He concludes the article by reproducing a call for action issued by group of academics and administrators of Gaza universities
We have come together as Palestinian academics and staff of Gaza universities to affirm our existence, the existence of our colleagues and our students, and the insistence on our future, in the face of all current attempts to erase us. The Israeli occupation forces have demolished our buildings but our universities live on. We reaffirm our collective determination to remain on our land and to resume teaching, study, and research in Gaza, at our own Palestinian universities, at the earliest opportunity.We call upon our friends and colleagues around the world to resist the ongoing campaign of scholasticide in occupied Palestine, to work alongside us in rebuilding our demolished universities, and to refuse all plans seeking to bypass, erase, or weaken the integrity of our academic institutions. The future of our young people in Gaza depends upon us, and our ability to remain on our land in order to continue to serve the coming generations of our people …Education is not just a means of imparting knowledge; it is a vital pillar of our existence and a beacon of hope for the Palestinian people
As a retired Professor of Human Rights and Social Justice I welcome this article by Avi Shlaim, in light of the deeply troubling silence of my former colleagues about the total destruction of Gaza’s infra structure – especially universities and advanced teaching hospitals.