The last days of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 - a time of good tidings and joy for all and for hopes that the New Year will bring peace, good health prosperity and freedom to all - saw the sudden worsening of the situation in the Gaza strip. For 18 days now, heavy bombing has resulted in more than 900 dead and thousands of injured victims, almost 30% of them are children. The bombing did not spare the buildings of the Islamic University in Gaza - one of the member - universities of PEACE.

We have received numerous messages from member universities and from academics, asking PEACE to react to the current situation. We are all deeply saddened by the dangerous course taken by events and share the feeling of “consternation” expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon regarding the intolerable attacks faced by the people in Gaza. Our thoughts are with all the people of Gaza and in particular with the students, teachers and researchers of the three universities in Gaza.

 We join the appeals of the international community for the immediate cessation of violence that brings about so much suffering and can only breed more violence. It is precisely at such moments when we see so much destruction and loss of life that we should not be overwhelmed by frustration and despair, and continue to hope that just PEACE will ultimately prevail in the troubled region.

The PEACE Programme Executive Bureau

On behalf of Human Rights Committee of the Palestine Academy :

Update on the Israeli military aggression: Targeting Islamic University campuses in Gaza Strip

The Israeli military aggression against the Gaza Strip in the last 48 hours left more than 300 people killed and 1000 injured and a devastated infrastructure in an enclosed area of 360 square kilometer with a population density exceeding 4000 inhabitant/square kilometer.  The people in such enclosed entity are left with very minimal fuel, food and medications and yet such aggression is committed in front of the international community eyes. The F-16 jet fighters together with Israel’s other mighty war naval and ground machines have bombarded Gaza Strip with tons of explosives that did not spare worshipping mosques, hospitals’ boundaries and other public buildings. Several hours ago the campuses of the Islamic University were targeted by Israeli jet fighters and the reports mentioned destruction of the student house buildings and other university buildings.

The Human Rights Committee of the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology strongly condemn the Israeli aggression against the enclosed Gaza Strip and call on the international community and institutions to act swiftly to put an end to the Israeli military aggression.

Human Rights Committee of the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology

Palestine Academy for Science and Technology,

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From the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University

31 December 2008

A Statement on the Situation in Gaza

The Bethlehem University community is deeply saddened over the events of the past several days in Gaza – and we are especially concerned for the hundreds of our graduates and their families who live there. On 28 December Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the violence in the Holy Land and asked the international community to do everything possible to help the Israelis and Palestinians find a solution to the current conflict. The Pope stated that he is “profoundly saddened by the deaths, the wounded, the material damage, the suffering, and the tears of the peoples [who are] victim to this tragic recurrence of attacks and reprisals.”

The extraordinary and disproportionate amount of bombing carried out by Israel and the vast number of innocent Palestinian dead and injured, not to mention the physical destruction wrought upon the already-oppressed people of Gaza, makes us cry to Heaven for an immediate ceasefire, that leads to a lasting peace built on justice.

Violence only begets violence, and no one wins. Such a cycle of conflict only brings deeper and more prolonged suffering to all those involved.

Our voices, and our prayers, join with Pope Benedict XVI and all people of good will who demand that this senseless violence end and that every effort be exhausted to resolve the underlying issues that led to this point.

The Bethlehem University community—Christians and Muslims—will gather together on 31 December 2008 to pray for the people of Gaza and for the wisdom and courage to bring forth justice that will lead to lasting peace.

Brother Robert Smith, FSC, PhD

Interim Vice Chancellor

31 December 2008