Message from Gaza to Stop the War Coalition
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Bombing of the Islamic University of Gaza
From:
Dr Kamalain Sha'ath
President, The Islamic University of Gaza
Tel: 970 8 282 3310
Fax: 970 8 286 3552
Website:
http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/en/We would like to express our sincere thanks and deep appreciation for all your conscious efforts, endeavours and demands to support the right to education, justice and freedom in Palestine.
We wholeheartedly support your peaceful protests against the blanket bombing of Gaza in general and the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) in particular which suffered extensive destruction and damage to all its buildings, academic facilities. Additionally more than 20,000 students, whose families have been agonizing from the suffocating siege of Gaza, have lost some members of their families and many others have lost their houses.
With great respect and admiration, we have been following all activities taking place in 19 British universities. Your brave campaign has strengthened both our hope and will that we are not alone in this just battle against unprecedented blatant injustices and flagrant violation of human rights in Palestine.
We are absolutely proud of you all and proud of your solidarity and support campaign for the right to education in Palestine which gives us bright light in the heart of the military occupation darkness.
We wish you full success in your supportive campaign and in achieving all your sensible demands which show a high level of awareness and commitment to defend basic human rights in Gaza at a time of obvious media bias and hypocrisy of many governments.
Reply by Lindsey German, National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
Dear Dr Kamalain Sha'ath,
Thank you for your kind words to us here at Stop the War Coalition in the UK. The attacks and blockade on Gaza have resulted in a massive publicresponse in opposition to the Israelis and those Western political leaders who have acquiesed in, or at best have remained silent in, the face of barbarism.
As you mention, there have been many student occupations in British universities in support of the people of Gaza. In many cases the students have won concessions from the university authorities. These have included offers of scholarships for Palestinain students, withdrawal from investments relating to arms for Israel and the supply of materials such as computers to educational establishments in Gaza.
In solidarity with you and all staff and students at the Islamic University of Gaza.
Lindsey German,National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
