This motion was passed at a GUCU Branch meeting on 09/10/2024
Goldsmiths UCU notes that:
- October 7th 2024 marks one year since Israel launched the current wave of violence against Palestinians living in Gaza.
- Over 40,000 people have been murdered and over 100,000 have been injured by the Israeli offensive.
- In this time, Israel has also increased violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, further perpetuating the apartheid system implemented by Israel.
- The extent of the destruction of Gaza has meant that almost all civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, creating massive displacement, huge shortages in the basic necessities essential for life, and the almost complete destruction of the provision of healthcare and education.
- Israel is now expanding its offensive operations into Lebanon and other parts of West Asia. This heightens the risk of intensification of regional violence.
- The ICJ has ruled that the actions carried out by Israel amount to a plausible case of genocide against the Palestinian people.
- The British government has played a key role in supporting Israel in this campaign, both historically and over the past year. This has been done by continuing to allow the sale of weapons manufactured here in the UK to Israel, and by providing diplomatic cover to Israeli aggression.
Goldsmiths UCU believes that:
- The military campaign being conducted by the Israeli military over the past year constitutes a new phase in the extreme violence and oppression of the Palestinian people, and this amounts to a genocide.
- The policies of the Israeli state, since its inception, have created a system of apartheid and settler colonialism in Palestine.
- That our institution – Goldsmiths, University of London – is complicit in the longstanding oppression and system of apartheid enforced in Palestine by Israel; a result of its failure to condemn Israel’s aggression and through investments made via the CCLA investment fund.
- Universities should condemn the scholasticide committed by Israel in Gaza over the past year and provide support to the reestablishment of education in Gaza and to Gazan students and academics.
- Action taken on University campuses across the world by student and staff Palestine activist groups have played an important role in highlighting the offences committed by Israel and the complicity of universities.
- Actions organised by the student led activist group Goldsmiths for Palestine (G4P) have had a positive impact in boosting Palestinian solidarity and holding our Senior Management Team (SMT) accountable for their failure to address the moral and financial complicity of the university.
- All people living under oppressive systems such as apartheid and settler colonialism have the right to resistance.
Goldsmiths UCU resolves:
- To reaffirm previous commitments made to support the group Goldsmiths for Palestine (G4P) and their demands, and to continue to support their campaigns.
- To support rallies, marches, events, and student and workplace walkouts called by activist groups such as Stop the War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), including this event on Saturday 19 October.
- To condemn Israel’s military offensives.
- To support all calls for the UK government to end arms sales to Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire.
- To lobby SMT to follow through on the commitments they made to Goldsmiths for Palestine (G4P) on 3rd May 2024.