NOVA University Lisbon is deeply concerned about the tragic situation in Gaza, which has been widely recognised and denounced by the United Nations as extremely serious.
In addition to the irreparable loss of tens of thousands of lives, the conditions for the region’s future development have also been systematically destroyed. Notably, the devastation of Palestinian higher education institutions, with which NOVA had academic cooperation relations, is an additional impact of this humanitarian catastrophe. Many of these institutions have had their infrastructure and equipment seriously damaged or destroyed, and a large number of their professors, researchers, students, and other professionals have been killed or forced to flee.
NOVA joins the United Nations in calling for an immediate end to the violence and respect for international humanitarian law. We also call for Palestine to be recognised as an independent state. We reaffirm our commitment and willingness to resume academic cooperation projects with Palestinian universities as soon as possible, in the spirit of solidarity, institutional commitment, and global responsibility.
We also express our solidarity with Palestinian members of the NOVA University Lisbon community, reaffirming our unconditional support for their dignity, safety and well-being.