Declaration on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Area Science Park with the Council of Presidents shares the feelings of horror, grief, indignation, and anguish over the dramatic humanitarian crisis suffered by the Palestinian population as a result of the military actions undertaken by the Israeli Government in the territory of the Gaza Strip. The brutal terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, can in no way justify what is being inflicted upon Palestinian civilians, who are victims of continuous attacks, bombings, and famine.

It condemns the actions that have caused and continue to cause thousands of civilian deaths, including a very large number of children. It also condemns the obstruction of humanitarian aid access, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure. This tragedy has led the International Court of Justice to declare the risk of a violation of the Genocide Convention, a conclusion confirmed by a special United Nations commission, which stated that Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza “bears the characteristics of genocide.”

It recalls that the fundamental principles enshrined in the Italian Constitution and in international law require respect for human rights, the rejection of war, and the promotion of peace and cooperation among peoples.

It reaffirms the steadfast commitment of the scientific research community to peace, as expressed in recent weeks by the staff of Public Research Institutions and Universities, as well as by various scientific and academic institutions. We endorse the words of the appeal issued by the National Academy of the Lincei, calling to “recognize the non-negotiable sacredness of the lives of children, women, and men, even in the Gaza Strip.”

It expresses appreciation for the positions taken by the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities and by the rectors of the main Israeli universities, who have called on the Israeli Government to undertake clear and decisive initiatives to preserve human lives in the Gaza Strip.

It affirms that dialogue and diplomacy are the means for resolving conflicts and emphasizes the importance of the role of scientific and cultural diplomacy as tools for building international cooperation in favor of peace.

Area Science Park therefore commits itself to promoting and strengthening specific support measures for students and researchers from Palestine, as well as from other areas affected by conflicts; to encouraging initiatives of scientific and educational cooperation with institutions from all countries in order to contribute to the affirmation and strengthening of a culture of peace, dialogue, and inclusion; to reaffirming the role of the scientific community as dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge but also to the protection of fundamental rights and the building of conditions for peaceful coexistence among individuals and peoples; and to upholding the very nature and foundation of science as a space of cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful and collaborative exchange among individuals and peoples, beyond any border, diversity, or conflict.