In this blog, scientists from Gaza discuss the challenges of conducting research and teaching under siege and bombardment.
The impacts of such devastation extend far beyond random destruction. The destruction of physical and human resources for learning and knowledge production deprives a society of the resilience and creativity that is indispensable for its future. Such devastation can take generations to overcome. This is a crucial aspect of the grim statistics surrounding current events that must be addressed by all parties and the international community.
Teachers, scholars, and researchers are critical to building knowledge societies that create the conditions for peace and understanding, fostering intellectual growth and mutual respect, and working towards human and environmental wellbeing.
The science sector has not adequately addressed its own resilience in the face of crises – from scientists becoming refugees to civilian infrastructure being destroyed resulting in the loss of knowledge and research projects.
The ISC report “Protecting Science in Times of Crisis: How do we stop being reactive and become more proactive?” emerges at a critical juncture, addressing the urgent need to protect scientists, academics, scientific and educational institutions increasingly targeted during conflict, or subject to losses because of natural hazards or increased climate-induced extreme weather events. Drawing on lessons learned from recent crises, the paper offers a strategic framework for the global scientific community. It emphasizes the importance of prevention, protection, and rebuilding, advocating for systematic, efficient, and coordinated approaches to crisis management within the science sector.
Gaza’s scientific and academic infrastructure have been “devastated” by conflict, UN education experts say. Nearly every school has been damaged or destroyed, including all of Gaza’s universities, affecting more than half a million students, UN experts report. According to the UN, hundreds of teachers and at least three university presidents have been killed across Gaza.
“I felt as if I was losing a part of my body with every stone that fell from our universities,” writes Rami Morjan, a professor of organic chemistry and Vice Dean of the College of Science at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), which was severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike in October 2023. “I lost my soul when I heard of the killings of my students and colleagues,” he adds.
His own sister has been killed, alongside her husband and their son. “Every day we lose loved ones, our students and our colleagues,” Morjan writes. “The feeling cannot be described.”
Among the dead are a number of his IUG colleagues. Sufyan Tayeh, the university’s president and UNESCO Chair for Physics, Astronomy and Space Sciences in Palestine, was killed by an Israeli airstrike along with his family on 2 December 2023.
Days later, Refaat Alareer, a poet and noted professor of literature at IUG, was killed by an Israeli airstrike. Written just weeks before his death, Alareer’s poem “If I must die” has now been translated into more than 70 languages and widely shared. Alareer was killed alongside his brother, sister and her four children. His daughter and grand-daughter were killed in a separate airstrike in April 2024.
Prof. Morjan recalls the day he learned about the death of one of his former students, Jannat Azzara, who had become his “right hand” in their small research lab. Hours after the two had spoken, Morjan learned that Azzara and her entire family had been killed. Her 4-year-old daughter was the only survivor. “I cannot forget the day,” he writes. “They killed a young, promising woman researcher.”
Like many in Gaza, Morjan’s family has been forced to flee. They are now living in a tent in Deir al-Balah, alongside thousands of other refugees who have packed into the small area, which continues to be hit by frequent military strikes.
Morjan has kept in touch with his university students and has tried to keep teaching classes online – which has been made extremely difficult because of energy blackouts, intermittent cell network and constant danger. “There is no safe place in Gaza. We and our students are living under pressure, and the threat of bombardment at any time,” he writes.
With nearly all of Gaza’s 2.1 million people displaced, including being on the move more than once, research and education activities have largely been forced to stop.
Still, some scientists in Gaza have found ways to continue to work in the appalling conditions. Among them are Samer Abuzerr, a Palestine Young Academy executive committee member and professor at University College of Science and Technology in Khan Younis.
“The constant threat of airstrikes, the destruction of infrastructure, and the pervasive sense of insecurity have deeply affected every aspect of life,” writes Abuzerr.
Despite this, and the electrical blackout and constant communications problems, he was able to stay in touch with colleagues. In June, they published a paper in SAGE Open Medicine on E.coli water contamination in Gaza.
“The emotional toll on everyone here is immense,” he adds. “Balancing the responsibilities of my professional duties with the safety and well-being of my family and community is a daily struggle. Yet, the resilience of the people around me and their unwavering commitment to education and research inspire me to keep going.”
In June, the UN estimated that clearing the debris accumulated in Gaza by that point in the war could take as long as 15 years. Reconstruction, the UN estimated in May, could cost as much as $50 billion USD, with the most optimistic prediction suggesting that it could take until 2040 just to rebuild destroyed homes. The damage to Gaza’s education system will “have a devastating long-term impact on the fundamental rights of people to learn and freely express themselves”, according to UN experts.
In an open letter first published in late May, relayed by the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, almost 200 Palestinian academics and university staff called for solidarity from the international science and academic community: “The rebuilding of Gaza’s academic institutions is not just a matter of education; it is a testament to our resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to securing a future for generations to come”
The “Protecting Science in Times of Crisis” paper highlights the lack of comprehensive policies to guide the science sector during emergencies, leading to uncoordinated and reactive responses. Prolonged disruptions can cause scientists to lose valuable expertise, making it crucial for the international science community to keep researchers active and reintegrate them swiftly. A proactive, global approach to building resilience in the science sector is essential. By implementing a new policy framework, we can prevent or minimize the impact of crises, saving lives, money and enhancing societal value. Similarly, integrating science into broader crisis responses ensures its prioritization in reconstruction, benefiting both the scientific community and society as a whole.
“As a young scientist, I hold a vision of a thriving and resilient scientific community in Palestine,” writes Abuzerr. “I hope for a future where Palestinian scientists have access to the resources, opportunities, and collaborations needed to advance their work. Despite the hardships, the potential for scientific innovation and progress in Palestine is vast.”
He says he hopes to see more international collaboration with Palestinian scientists, enabling knowledge exchange and providing access to advanced technologies not available in Gaza – and opening the door to further Palestinian contributions to global science.
“I hope for the development of policies that prioritize science and technology as key components of national development,” he adds. “Investing in education, research, and innovation can drive economic growth, improve public health, and enhance the overall quality of life for Palestinians.”
He also notes the immense psychological burden of living through war. “Providing adequate mental health resources is crucial for sustaining the scientific community’s resilience and productivity,” he writes.
During this crisis, and long after, scholars in Gaza need the support of their colleagues around the world, adds Morjan. “Based on our steadfast belief in the universal right to education, our commitment to international conventions and our moral obligation to our students – who have been deprived of their educational rights due to the war – I would like to take this chance to invite all scientists, science students and all of the scientific community to offer a hand to Palestinian students and scholars,” he says.
Gaza’s universities are destroyed, as are many teaching and research facilities in the Palestinian territories. As and when people are able to leave, the international scientific community expects many researchers and academics in Gaza will want to seek safety and opportunities to work remotely or abroad, at least temporarily.
The ISC is compiling offers of assistance from its network of Members and partners, and the global scientific community, to support at-risk Palestinian scholars and students.
Disclaimer
The information, opinions and recommendations presented in our guest blogs are those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the values and beliefs of the International Science Council
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