Demand ot the student parliament for an immediate ceasefire

21 August 2024

Student body of the

University of Hamburg

- Student Parliament -

Template 24/25

Parliamentary term 2024/2025 25 June 2024

Information by the Presidium of the Student Parliament

In its meeting on 20 June 2024, the student parliament decided on the basis of a Motion for proposal 2424/25 in conjunction with an amendment to table submission (cf. minutes on submission 2425/28):

University and student body for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict

"Since wars arise in the minds of men, peace must also arise in the minds of men.. […]

The widespread dissemination of culture and education in justice, freedom and peace are indispensable for human dignity and a supreme obligation for all peoples, which must be fulfilled in a spirit of mutual assistance and sympathy.

A peace based solely on political and economic agreements between governments cannot find the unanimous, lasting and sincere consent of the peoples of the world. Peace, if it is not to fail, must be anchored in the spiritual and moral solidarity of humanity," he said. From the Preamble to the Constitution of the Organization for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization The United Nations (UNESCO), 1945.

We call for an immediate ceasefire and, in particular, an end to attacks on civilian targets. The wanton destruction of schools and universities, museums, cultural sites, hospitals and refugee shelters has been condemned internationally. The IDF's targeted attacks on educational infrastructure have raised fears of "scholasticide" in the region.

Palestinian society. Under the bombs, the university system in Gaza has collapsed. Our special solidarity goes out to the Palestinian and Israeli civilian population, to the academics, cultural workers and intellectuals who continue to work for peace in spite of everything.

In Gaza alone, until recently, there were 17 higher education institutions with more than 85,000 students out of a population of just over 2 million. The rate of tertiary education degrees was in line with that of Germany. The education system has been built and expanded in such a way that only 2.6% of the population is not literate, far less than the global average. The development of the education system, as well as the development of educated individuals based on education, science and the arts, in civil conditions, in academic freedom and with the necessary material foundations, are essential conditions for the development of Palestinian statehood and a political solution to the conflict for a just peace with Israel.

We call on the members of the university, all bodies and its leadership to join the call for an immediate ceasefire.

Solidarity should also be exercised through the systematic development of scholarship programmes for students and scientists at university level and at the level of the science foundations and the DAAD.

We call for the establishment and expansion of academic cooperation for civilian scientific purposes on an equal footing with educational and cultural institutions in Palestine. We also call for trilateral scientific cooperation with Israeli universities to promote understanding and peace. The existing partnerships and cooperation of the University of Hamburg and its members with other scientific institutions should serve exclusively civilian goals and the promotion of humanity and the indivisibility of human rights.

We call for finding ways to support Palestinian students and teachers in resuming online courses, rebuilding their colleges and educational programs.

We call for ways to use the scientific resources of the university and the university hospital to improve the medical-humanitarian and especially the mental health of our colleagues and fellow students in Gaza.

We call on everyone to participate scientifically in the clarification of the crimes of this war, in the international law and, above all, in the research into the causes of conflict and the causes of peace, and in the formation of peace.For this purpose, in the scientific discourse the fully realized freedom of science, embedded in the fundamental and human rights, must be filled with life. Sticking to definitions that cannot be further developed even by scientific discourse contradicts the living conditions of academic freedom and knowledge gain, which we hold to be elementary for every university and science.

We, the student body, see this assumption of responsibility as a necessary contribution of the entire university to create a peaceful and humane world.