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8 clusters · 25 sources · 40 days · First seen · Last updated

Turkish academic solidarity for Gaza and Palestine

Overview

Turkish academic institutions have organized forums to address the humanitarian crisis and the future of higher education in Gaza and Palestine. In early September 2026, Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University hosted a program titled ‘From Gaziantep to Gaza: Science, Solidarity, and a Shared Future.’ Following this, Düzce University held the second ‘Science Cafe for Gaza’ event, where student Abdalfatah Albaba described Gaza as a ‘large prison’ facing a ‘77-year genocide.’ On September 12, Iğdır University hosted a panel where Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel stated that silence regarding the destruction of Palestinian schools is ‘incompatible with academic education and universal human rights.’ By mid-September, Afyon Kocatepe University (AKU) joined these efforts, hosting a discussion featuring Palestinian students Lama Younes and Abdurrahman Ebu Nada, who highlighted the targeting of teachers and schools. Düzce University expanded its ‘Science Cafe for Gaza’ series with a program titled ‘Being a Society in the Shadow of War: Education and Social Memory in Gaza.’ On September 18, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKÜ) organized a conference titled ‘Being a Student in Gaza’ as part of the Council of Higher Education’s ‘Science Cafe for Gaza’ initiative. Dr. Diren Doğan provided a historical overview of the region’s conflicts, noting the heavy damage sustained by universities. Midwifery student Nur Naim El-Baz shared the extreme difficulties of studying, including navigating destroyed roads and leaving tents to search for internet signals. On September 20, Bartın University hosted ‘A Struggle for Existence: The Future of Higher Education in Gaza.’ Professor Mahmud Kaddum noted that destruction extends to the loss of ‘academic heritage and scientific memory.’ Rector Professor Ahmet Akkaya referenced the term ‘scholasticide’ used by United Nations experts to describe the targeting of educational systems. By late September, the initiative expanded significantly under the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

Entities

Gaza · Council of Higher Education · Amjad Barham · Turkey · Erol Özvar

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Gazi University hosts panel on Palestinian resistance

    Gazi University and ANFİDAP held a panel discussing the Palestinian cause, with speakers highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and drawing historical parallels to local independence struggles.

  2. [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Turkey hosts Science Cafe events to support Gaza universities

    Turkey's Council of Higher Education organized “Science Cafe” events across 70 provinces to support Gaza's academic community and highlight the struggles of Palestinian students and scholars.

  3. [CULTURE] 12 sources
    Turkish universities host panels on Gaza higher education crisis

    Turkish universities are hosting ‘Science Cafe for Gaza’ events to discuss the impact of conflict on higher education, academic solidarity, and the preservation of scientific life in Gaza.

  4. [CULTURE] 6 sources
    Gaza students share educational struggles at Alanya conference

    Students and academics shared the challenges of pursuing education amidst the humanitarian crisis and destruction in Gaza during a conference held at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University in Turkey.

  5. [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Turkish universities hold panels on Gaza education and social memory

    Universities in Turkey, including Afyon Kocatepe and Düzce, held academic panels to discuss the destruction of the education system and the preservation of social memory in Gaza.

  6. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Iğdır University holds academic solidarity panel for Gaza

    Iğdır University held an academic solidarity panel to support Gaza, condemning the destruction of educational institutions and calling for international action against the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

  7. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Düzce University hosts Gaza humanitarian and academic forum

    Düzce University held a “Science Cafe for Gaza” event to support Palestinian academics and students, featuring testimonies regarding the humanitarian crisis and the struggle to maintain education in Gaza.

  8. [CULTURE] 4 sources
    GİBTÜ hosts academic solidarity program for Gaza and Palestine

    Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University hosted a program to discuss academic solidarity and the future of higher education in Gaza and Palestine.

Sources

aksiyon.com.tr · aydinses.com · gazetedamga.com.tr · gazeteekspres.com · gazeterize.com · geredemedyatakip.com.tr · gumushane.gen.tr · haber1.com · habermeydan.com · haberport.com · haberts.com · haksozhaber.net · kahramanmarasgazetesi.com.tr · karsmanset.com · kemergozcu.com · kocatepegazetesi.com · malatyaguncel.com · manisadenge.com · medyagazete.com · mersingazetesi.com · mersinhaber.com · safakgazete.com · sondakika.com · yenialanya.com · yenicaggazetesi.com.tr

This summary has been updated 6 times: see revision history