Communiqué of the Catalan public universities after the attack on the University of Birzeit
The Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP) explicitly condemns the attack perpetrated on 6 January at Birzeit University, in the West Bank, by the Israeli army. The assault, which occurred during lecturing hours, with students, faculty and technical staff carrying out academic activities on campus, left a dozen injured.
The ACUP wishes to denounce an action that violates international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Universities are civilian assets, essential spaces for knowledge and science, where no form of violence has a place, and even less so military violence. This assault is a flagrant violation of humanitarian principles and the right to education of the Palestinian people, and is a deliberate attempt to ensure that the University ceases to be a space of knowledge and freedom.
In a global context marked by a growing escalation of conflicts and a worrying drift towards the logic of force, the ACUP wishes to reiterate its rejection of any form of violence and any violation of international law.
In line with university values, and after the attack on Birzeit University, the Catalan Association of Public Universities finds it once again necessary to call for a true and lasting peace, and respect for the rights and freedoms of the Palestinian people.
Barcelona, 14 January 2026
The UAB, with Sustainable Development Goals
Peace, justice and strong institutions