Israeli forces have carried out a brutal raid on Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, leaving dozens of Palestinians wounded and sparking widespread condemnation. The attack occurred during a student event in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and coincided with a screening of a film about a six-year-old girl shot dead by troops during the genocidal war on Gaza.
According to eyewitnesses, including law student Youssef Sharawneh and engineering student Mustafa Rimawi, Israeli soldiers stormed the campus, throwing sound grenades and firing live rounds. Many students were caught off guard, taking classes or roaming the campus when the raid began. Three students were shot in the legs, five suffered tear gas inhalation, and three were hit by flying shrapnel.
The attack has been widely condemned as a flagrant violation of Palestinian rights and a threat to education. Birzeit University described the incident as a "systematic policy aimed at intimidating students, undermining their right to education, and targeting Palestinian consciousness." The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 11 people were treated for injuries at a hospital in Ramallah.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the academic community, with Palestine's Ministry of Education and Higher Education condemning the violence as an "attack on all international norms and conventions when it comes to education facilities."
As tensions continue to rise in the region, Israeli forces have also cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a controversial settlement project near East Jerusalem that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank into two. The E1 project has been met with widespread criticism from the international community, which considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.
The incident at Birzeit University serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by Palestinian students and educators who are fighting for their rights and the right to education. The attack will not "break the will of Palestinian students or staff," but it may have already dealt a significant blow to the academic community, leaving many to wonder if anyone is truly safe under Israeli occupation.
According to eyewitnesses, including law student Youssef Sharawneh and engineering student Mustafa Rimawi, Israeli soldiers stormed the campus, throwing sound grenades and firing live rounds. Many students were caught off guard, taking classes or roaming the campus when the raid began. Three students were shot in the legs, five suffered tear gas inhalation, and three were hit by flying shrapnel.
The attack has been widely condemned as a flagrant violation of Palestinian rights and a threat to education. Birzeit University described the incident as a "systematic policy aimed at intimidating students, undermining their right to education, and targeting Palestinian consciousness." The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 11 people were treated for injuries at a hospital in Ramallah.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the academic community, with Palestine's Ministry of Education and Higher Education condemning the violence as an "attack on all international norms and conventions when it comes to education facilities."
As tensions continue to rise in the region, Israeli forces have also cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a controversial settlement project near East Jerusalem that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank into two. The E1 project has been met with widespread criticism from the international community, which considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.
The incident at Birzeit University serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by Palestinian students and educators who are fighting for their rights and the right to education. The attack will not "break the will of Palestinian students or staff," but it may have already dealt a significant blow to the academic community, leaving many to wonder if anyone is truly safe under Israeli occupation.
*Distracted Boyfriend meme* - Students caught off guard in class 
*Clap For Teacher GIF* - Education under attack 
*Free Palestine Meme*
I'm just so angry about what happened at Birzeit University 
. I'm so worried about my friends who are students there, they could get caught in the crossfire next 
.
this is so messed up 
are we supposed to be grateful for the 'security' provided by Israeli forces when it feels like they're just using them to intimidate and control people? 
and on top of that, there's this E1 project which is basically just a huge middle finger to the international community... 
can't we all just get along?! 
. I don't get it, how do you try to suppress an entire movement with a few random attacks? 
This is so wrong 
, how can they do this to innocent kids and teachers? 
They're just trying to learn and express themselves, not pose a threat 
. Israeli forces need to stop their aggression and work towards peace 
. We can't let this kind of violence continue without speaking out 
. The students and staff at Birzeit University are lucky to be alive 
, but many others in Palestine aren't so fortunate 
.
.
. May they receive the support and care they need 
. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to ensure that education is accessible to everyone, everywhere 
.