Politecnico di Bari for Gaza “Solidarity with the population”
Stop to agreements directly promoted or funded by the Israeli government. Faculty members make their expertise available for reconstruction
Politecnico di Bari expresses solidarity with the population of Gaza and suspends any research collaboration in which the Israeli government is directly involved as promoter or funder. This was decided by the Academic Senate of the University, to express the Poliba community’s opposition to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and to all wars, “until minimum conditions of respect for international law and protection of the civilian population are guaranteed.”
In addition, the Poliba community makes its multidisciplinary expertise available free of charge to support the reconstruction of Gaza. In particular, it offers support for preliminary projects in the sectors of residential construction, energy, water, and logistics. Below is the text of the document approved by the Academic Senate:
Declaration of the Academic Senate of the Politecnico di Bari in support of peace and the reconstruction of Gaza
The Academic Senate of the Politecnico di Bari firmly condemns all ongoing wars, in every part of the world, and any form of violence affecting civilians, minorities, and vulnerable populations. It reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture of peace, dialogue, cooperation, and respect for human dignity, which it considers indispensable foundations of scientific, civic, and democratic progress.
At a time when many areas of the world are marked by open or latent conflicts, public opinion and the international community are today particularly called to attention by the tragedy unfolding in the Gaza Strip, which has become ever more evident through news reports, testimonies, and the accounts of humanitarian organizations.
The dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict originated as a response to the unprecedentedly violent terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, an act that caused the death of hundreds of innocent civilians and that must be condemned without reservation. However, what initially could have been considered a response linked to national security is taking on the contours of an inhumane and indiscriminate action against the Palestinian civilian population. In line with the principles of our Constitution, which “rejects war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means of resolving international disputes” (Article 11), the Politecnico di Bari joins the voices of democratic institutions, civil society, and the academic world calling for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the immediate protection of civilians, and the launch of a just and lasting political solution based on dialogue and mutual recognition.
As recalled by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella on June 2, “Allowing an entire population, from children to the elderly, to be reduced to hunger is inhumane.” Universities, as communities dedicated to the development of knowledge and critical awareness, have the moral duty to promote peace, human dignity, and the rejection of all forms of violence and oppression.
While maintaining that scientific collaboration should remain, where possible, an instrument of dialogue even in the most difficult times, the Polytechnic University of Bari suspends research collaborations in which the Israeli government plays a direct role, as promoter or funder, until minimum conditions of respect for international law and protection of the civilian population are guaranteed. This decision in no way affects relations with Israeli researchers and students, who continue to be welcome and part of our academic community. The suspension is to be understood as an act of civic and institutional responsibility, aimed at encouraging a genuine commitment to a ceasefire and reconstruction.
It is hoped that such a ceasefire may be achieved as soon as possible, thanks to a strong and shared initiative by international diplomacy. This condition is necessary so that, in a Gaza Strip finally free from war and terrorist organizations, space may be given to the action of international organizations that promote peace, cooperation, and the rule of law. In this context, a process of civil and material reconstruction may begin, founded on justice, security, and human development. From this perspective, universities can and must contribute concretely to the rebirth of the affected territories, making their expertise, planning capacity, and international relations available. For this reason, the Senate expresses full support for the initiative, launched by faculty members of the Polytechnic University of Bari and scholars from other Italian and international universities, to make their expertise available free of charge to support the reconstruction of Gaza. In particular, work will focus on the development of preliminary projects in the sectors of housing, energy, water, and logistics, in response to the needs of local communities and in coordination with international experts and institutions.
Finally, the Senate unequivocally condemns every expression of antisemitism and, more generally, any form of discrimination or incitement to hatred based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, or any other personal or collective condition, in accordance with Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
No criticism of political or military decisions can ever justify hostile behavior toward peoples, cultures, or individuals. In particular, the Polytechnic University of Bari intends to protect every member of its university community, with special attention to students who may be in vulnerable conditions or may be subject to discrimination or isolation.
The Senate commits to continuing to promote, in all its activities, a culture of peace, dialogue, and respect for human dignity, in the awareness that only on these values can sustainable progress be built, founded on the freedom of knowledge and responsibility toward humanity.
The article Politecnico di Bari for Gaza “Solidarity with the population” comes from Poliba Chronicle.
