University of Padua: new motion on what is happening in the Middle East
01.07.2025
The University of Padua, in light of the increasing systemic violations of the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people and the escalation of the Israeli military action in Gaza, embraces the words of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, expressing the hope to overcome the "logic of conflict and embrace a perspective of peace, reconstruction, and well-being, with full respect for human rights."
The University also strongly condemns all repeated violations of international law and human rights committed by the State of Israel, as documented by the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and the European Union. It firmly calls for humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip in order to "bring an end as soon as possible to the unacceptable suffering of the civilian population."
The University hopes for a strengthening of diplomatic and political initiatives aimed at ending the violations of international law, which include indiscriminate bombings and the blockade of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. It appeals to political and governmental authorities to ensure the full implementation of all UN resolutions concerning the relationship between Palestine and Israel: the application of international law—not the use of force—must once again become the means of resolving disputes.
Drawing on its long history, the University of Padua commits to reinforcing its efforts in promoting academic, educational, and humanitarian initiatives oriented toward building a culture of peace, justice, and dignity. It reaffirms the role of the university as a space for open, free, and respectful dialogue across differences, firmly opposing all forms of oppression, apartheid, and institutionalized violence.
From this perspective, the University confirms its commitment to promoting—within CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors), the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), and in all relevant national and international institutional settings—a shared position among Italian universities in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Finally, the University of Padua reiterates that its existing institutional agreements with Israeli universities and academic projects involving researchers are exclusively for educational and research purposes, in accordance with the University Statute and Article 15 of its Code of Research Integrity. The University commits to not undertaking new institutional agreements nor renewing existing ones with Israeli institutions and entities that contribute to the continuation of severe violations of international law and the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
This is the content of the motion presented today to the Academic Senate—a document that includes clear proposals and commitments by the University, which the Rector, Daniela Mapelli, comments on as follows:
“We are calling for strong institutional action to achieve peace in the Middle East and to ensure respect for the human rights of the population of Gaza, victims of a continuous and terrible extermination, with civilians, families, girls, and boys forced into inhumane conditions.
Once again, the Academic Senate of the University of Padua felt the need to take a position on what is happening in the Middle East. We do this also based on our own history: we are a university that, since its foundation, has seen students, faculty members, and researchers of all geographic origins, religious beliefs, and political convictions collaborate and interact. We are the university that created and hosts the “Antonio Papisca” Human Rights Centre, which has been committed for decades to promoting a culture of human rights and peace. It is from this tradition, from this identity, that our commitment arises—one enshrined in our Statute: a commitment to peace, justice, respect for international law, and human dignity.
We have condemned the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas, and we have denounced the indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli government and armed forces. We have established scholarships for Palestinian students.
Now, a year after our last motion on this issue, the members of the Academic Senate have approved a third document denouncing the systematic violations of international law and human rights committed by Israel, as certified by the UN, the International Criminal Court, and the European Union. The Academic Senate has echoed President Sergio Mattarella’s call to “bring an end as soon as possible to the unacceptable suffering of the civilian population” in Gaza.
We commit to strengthening our efforts in promoting academic initiatives and to acting as a driving force within CRUI, MUR, and every national and international institutional setting for a shared position among Italian universities in support of the Palestinian people’s self-determination and the recognition of the State of Palestine.
We remain firmly convinced that culture can build bridges and a common language of peace. For this reason, we confirm our academic projects that involve researchers from Israeli universities—projects that are exclusively educational and research-oriented and fully aligned with Article 15 of our Research Integrity Code. At the same time, however, we are suspending the signing of new international agreements with Israeli entities and institutions that, in any way, contribute to systematic violations of international law and human rights.
We are aware that, in the face of the dramatic weight of the current historical moment, a motion by a single university will not resolve the situation. But we are equally convinced that raising one’s voice contributes to preventing all forms of indifference.”
