By Dr Wesam Amer
Council for At-Risk Academics/The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund fellow and visiting researcher, University of Cambridge
Dean of Faculty of Communication and Languages, Gaza University
Co-founder of ActforPal 

At a time of increasing anti-Palestinian racism particularly in the West, over 330 scholars, students, and activists gathered at the University of Hamburg for the conference “Academia Under Attack – For Academic Freedom and International Solidarity ” Over the course of two days (April 12-13), participants focuses on the role of science and knowledge in times of global confrontation, and addressed what universities, the scientific community and the media can and must do for a global transformation that is as civil, social and sustainable particularly in the contexts of Israeli genocide and occupation. The defence of peace, academic freedom and human dignity in Palestine and Europe were analysed and discussed in context. The conference represented an urgent and collective response to the escalating crisis in Gaza and to wider global trends of militarisation and academic repression.

What Was the Conference About?

At its core, the conference asked: What responsibilities do scholars and universities bear in the face of war, occupation, and rising authoritarianism? Participants sought to confront these questions not just in theory, but through action-oriented dialogue.

Themes ranged from the Israeli deliberate destruction of Gaza’s education system to the silencing of academic voices in Germany and beyond. The event reflected a deep concern for the militarisation of education under the so-called “Zeitenwende” policy shift, and it demanded a recommitment to peace-oriented, critical, and internationalist approaches within academia.

Who Organised It – and Why?

The conference was initiated by a network of lecturers, students, and university staff from Hamburg and other institutions in northern Germany. Despite a diversity of political backgrounds, the organisers shared a vision: science and scholarship must serve the cause of peace and justice, not militarism and state power.

The conference was built around three urgent objectives:

1. 1. Supporting Palestinian academics and students amid the ongoing destruction in Gaza.

1. 1. Opposing the repression of academic freedom and public debate in Germany.

1. 1. Reaffirming the civil, peace-focused mission of universities against growing militarisation.

The organisers called attention to the concept of “scholasticide”—the systematic destruction of Palestinian education by Israeli forces—and underscored their commitment to defending the fundamental human right to education.

Who Attended and What Was Discussed?

Participants included professors, early-career scholars, student organisers, journalists, and activists from across Germany and beyond. Conversations spanned a wide range of critical topics across five major panels:

Panel 1: Bearing Witness to the Destruction of Gaza’s Educational Infrastructure

This panel focused on the devastation of Gaza’s educational institutions since October 2023. The discussion exposed the deliberate targeting of universities, schools, and educators—a process described by many as “scholasticide.” Despite these horrors, participants shared examples of resilience and rebuilding efforts, while calling for global coordination and long-term support for Palestinian higher education.

Speakers:

• • Dr. Wesam Amer (Cara/IIE-SRF Fellow, University of Cambridge | Gaza University)

• • Prof. Dr. Sabine Broeck (Universität Bremen)

• • Asma Mustafa (Teacher, Gaza)

• • Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sayed (University of Cambridge)

In my talk, I focused on a roadmap for rebuilding Gaza’s education system. I called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, digital education tools to ensure continuity, legal accountability through divestment, and long-term funding mechanisms like endowment funds. Above all, I emphasised the need to centre Palestinian voices in global academic discourse and to foster solidarity through co-authorship, academic exchanges, and dedicated Palestine Studies centres.

Panel 2: Academic Freedom During the Authoritarian Turn

This panel examined how universities in Germany are becoming sites of repression, particularly through the imposition of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which is often used to delegitimise pro-Palestinian voices. Alternatives like the Jerusalem Declaration were discussed as more balanced frameworks for combating antisemitism without undermining academic freedom.

Speakers:

• • Dr. Arne Andersen

• • Prof. Dr. Aleida Assmann

• • Dr. Dörthe Engelcke

• • Prof. Dr. Myropi Margarita Tsomou

Panel 3: Militarisation or Civilian Development? Science at the Turning Point

Here, panellists critiqued how universities are being drawn into military-industrial agendas under the pretext of national security. Despite many German universities adopting “civil clauses” to commit to peaceful research, these are under threat. The history of the movement for ‘peace science’ and the possibilities of expanding the commitment to purely civilian science were discussed.

Speakers:

• • Prof. Dr. Werner Ruf

• • Jonathan Beullens

• • Dr. Hannes Jung

Panel 4: Freedom of the Press? How German Media Have Covered the Gaza War

This media panel explored the selective framing and double standards in German reporting on Gaza. It questioned whether press freedom has truly been upheld and how journalists can better reflect Palestinian realities.

Speakers:

• • Dr. Wesam Amer

• • Hanno Hauenstein

• • Riad Othman

In this panel, I shared my reflections on how the Israeli genocide is portrayed in the media, focusing on the immense risks Palestinian journalists face—working under constant threat, without equipment, support, or psychological safety, and yet serving as the sole reporters from Gaza due to Israel’s restriction on international media access. I also addressed the disturbing pattern of Israeli violations, from the targeted killing of journalists to bombings of media offices and communication blackouts. I critiqued the Western mainstream media for adopting heavily biased narratives that frame the war as merely against Hamas, casting doubt on Palestinian reports, and largely erasing the broader historical and political context—like the ongoing occupation, the siege on Gaza, and the Nakba. This biased framing not only distorts public understanding but also plays an active role in shaping global discourse in a way that mirrors and reinforces the violence on the ground.

Panel 5: Academic Cooperation for Conflict Resolution and Just Peace

Finally, this panel explored how academic collaboration can be a tool for peacebuilding rather than a casualty of geopolitical conflict. Speakers urged universities to resist pressure to sever ties with Palestinian institutions and to instead deepen scholarly cooperation across borders.

Speakers:

• • Prof. Dr. Jens Hanssen

• • Dr. Anja Zorob,

• • Wiebke Streckenbach

• • Prof. Dr. Abed Schokry

Declaration and Outcomes of the Conference

The conference concluded with a joint declaration affirming the duty of scholars to foster a peaceful, just world through critical knowledge production. Key demands included:

• • An immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access in Gaza.

• • Protection and rebuilding of Palestinian universities.

• • Emergency support programs for displaced academics and students.

• • The creation of a Centre for Palestine Studies.

• • Rejection of the misuse of anti-Semitism legislation to silence academic debate.

• • Institutional commitments to non-militarised, socially responsible research.

• • The declaration also condemned the instrumentalisation of academia by nationalist and militarist agendas and called for transparent governance, strong civil clauses, and an expansion of public funding for peace-oriented education.

Final Reflections

The “Academia Under Attack” conference was not only a place for analysis but a powerful act of transnational solidarity. It reminded us that academic freedom is never just about freedom of speech in the abstract – it’s about the freedom to live, to learn, and to rebuild futures in the face of destruction. As members of the global academic community, we must stand with our Palestinian colleagues and work collectively toward justice, peace, and knowledge that liberates.

For further information, please refer to the media articles covering the conference

• • Academia Under Attack: Conference in Hamburg Calls for Peaceful Science (Yeni Hayat)

• • German Conference Sheds Light on Scholasticide in Gaza (Press TV)

• • Krieg gegen Hörsäle – Conference Report (Junge Welt)

• • Almost No School for Gaza Students, Only Scholasticide (nd aktuell)