[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkish academic solidarity for Gaza and Palestine

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2026-09-22 05:15 UTC → 2026-09-28 16:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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).

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