Hebron: The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education has denounced the assault by Israeli occupation forces on students from Smart College for Modern Education. The incident occurred at a military checkpoint as the students were returning to Hebron from a humanitarian volunteer activity organized in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Ramallah.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, the students were detained, mistreated, and physically assaulted by Israeli forces, which resulted in injuries to several individuals. These students required medical attention and were subsequently transferred to a hospital for treatment.
The ministry also condemned the recent detention of several female students and a graduate from Birzeit University by Israeli occupation forces. The detainees include students Jolan Abu Awwad, Natalia Abu Diya, and Sama Safi, along with graduate Laila Nael Khalil. It has been reported that they remain in detention and are undergoing interrogation.
The ministry highlighted that these actions are part of a systematic effort by the Israeli occupation to undermine the Palestinian higher education sector and deny students their right to a safe educational environment. It emphasized the violations of international laws and conventions that protect educational institutions and their members.
Reaffirming the Palestinian commitment to education, the ministry called on international bodies, including the International Association of Universities and the Association of Arab Universities, to take a strong stance against these violations and to help expose and halt the ongoing assaults on Palestinian higher education institutions.