By the GDI Students for Palestine group

It’s been over sixteen months since Israel launched a full-scale attack on Gaza. The events and loss of life that occurred on October 7th were deeply tragic. However, this violence did not start on October 7th. The Palestinian people have endured 76 years of occupation. In the words of United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, “The violence that Israel has unleashed against the Palestinians post-7 October is not happening in a vacuum, but is part of a long-term intentional, systematic, state-organised forced displacement and replacement of the Palestinians.”

Since October 2023, 46,645 people in Gaza have been killed, including at least 13,319 children. Analysts, rights groups and organisations on the ground believe these figures to be far higher, with some estimating up to 186,000 or more deaths attributable to the current war in Gaza. Many bodies remain missing, buried beneath the rubble left by the destruction of over 92% of Gaza’s housing, as reported by the UN. In Gaza, where half the population is under the age of 18, countless children and young people have faced systematic displacement, injury, and trauma. These actions have been described as forms of collective punishment, prohibited under international law. They are now the subject of legal proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Israel stands accused of grave violations, including potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In February 2025, President Donald Trump proposed a plan to “take over” the Gaza Strip, forcibly relocating its approximately two million Palestinian residents to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Navi Pillay, head of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated that such a plan would constitute “ethnic cleansing” and violate international legal standards. Despite criticisms, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has supported Trump’s plan.

This is not an isolated policy but part of a longstanding system of oppression in which Israel continues to displace and subjugate Palestinians with impunity, bolstered by unwavering U.S. political and military support. The endorsement of such measures by some world leaders only reinforces Israel’s ability to carry out these violations without consequence. As students of development, we find it deeply concerning that the international community allows these atrocities to persist under the guise of security and reconstruction.

 

Introducing GDI Students for Palestine

 

At The University of Manchester, GDI Students for Palestine is a collective of voices united by shared values of justice, equality, and solidarity. Every week, we gather as students passionate about global development and social justice in practice. Our aims are to not only spread awareness of the struggles faced by Palestinians but to also take action within our immediate community at the Global Development Institute (GDI). We believe there is immense power in collective action and understand that starting somewhere, no matter how small, is vital. As students, we are acutely aware of our potential to influence change on campus that can ripple outward.

As a group, we are driven by a set of core values:

• Zero tolerance for bigotry and racism in all forms, including antisemitism, Islamophobia and beyond.
• Openness to dialogue – we value listening to all perspectives with respect and empathy.
• Justice and equality for all oppressed people, not just in rhetoric but in action.
• Collaboration, trust, and kindness guide our relationships with students, staff, and the wider community.
• A commitment to non-hierarchical structures that foster inclusion and shared ownership.
• Social justice as the foundation for meaningful change.

 

Our Goals

 

We believe that academic institutions have a profound responsibility to advocate for human rights and global justice. As part of the Global Development Institute, a leading voice within the development paradigm, it is imperative that we reflect on the values at the core of our field – justice, equity, and reconciliation – and ensure that our actions align with them. To remain silent or passive in the face of atrocities contradicts the very principles we learn and aspire to uphold.

Our fieldwork, where we will be visiting Rwanda, emphasises the importance of addressing historical injustices and fostering pathways to sustainable peace and development. To neglect applying these same principles to the situation in Gaza would undermine the integrity of our mission as a global development institution.

As students, we expect more from those who shape us through their research and teachings. The academics we learn from are acclaimed researchers in their fields, celebrated for their commitment to addressing inequality and injustice globally. It is only fair to hold them – and ourselves – to the same standards of consistency and courage when it comes to standing against oppression. This is why we have called on GDI to take meaningful steps: by partnering with institutions like Birzeit University, making a public statement on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and integrating case studies on Palestine into our learning and extracurricular activities. These actions not only align with the ethos of global development but also reinforce the power of collective action within our community.

 

The University of Manchester’s Response

 

The University of Manchester’s official statement on the Israel-Gaza war expresses sympathy for all those affected and emphasises the importance of mutual respect and understanding within the university community. It provides mental health and well-being resources, as well as avenues for students and staff to report hate incidents. However, the statement’s framing reflects a broader trend among academic institutions, where neutrality is maintained even in the face of significant power imbalances. While acknowledging the suffering on both sides, the language does not explicitly address the well-documented humanitarian crisis in Gaza or the systemic nature of the violence, which has led to allegations of war crimes and breaches of international law.

In his November 7, 2023, comment piece, President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians while expressing deep concern for Palestinians. He affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence while emphasising the importance of protecting non-combatants, framing the situation as an “agonisingly difficult set of issues.” His response also reflected on the role of universities during times of crisis, questioning whether institutions can truly uphold values like freedom, respect, and equal opportunity without taking a stance on major global issues. He advocated for “contested civility” and the necessity of free speech, even when it provokes discomfort, arguing that universities should embrace diverse perspectives as part of their intellectual mission.

While these reflections acknowledge the situation’s complexity, they also subtly shift focus toward the challenges of institutional leadership rather than amplifying the voices of those directly impacted on campus. The emphasis on the difficulty of navigating such crises, while understandable, risks framing the university’s position as one of measured balance rather than one that actively engages with the realities of power, occupation, and systemic violence. This carefully calibrated neutrality aligns with the idea that the commitment to open dialogue, while valuable, can sometimes serve as a substitute for directly addressing structures of oppression. By prioritising the need for “broad participation” and intellectual exchange, the statement raises questions about whether universities are truly listening to affected communities or simply reaffirming their role as facilitators of debate.

 

Our Initiatives

 

As part of our commitment to amplifying critical discussions on Palestine within the Global Development Institute, GDI Students for Palestine will co-host a guest lecture in the GDI Lecture Series. On April 23, Dr. Nadia Naser-Najjab from the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Palestine Studies will deliver a lecture on settler colonialism, offering valuable insights grounded in extensive research and scholarship. We aim to expand these engagements by inviting additional speakers with expertise in Palestine studies, drawing from institutions such as the University of Exeter, SOAS, University of Leeds, and European networks like Academics for Palestine. More information can be found here.

Additionally, within a two-day symposium organised by GDI’s Dr. Heather Alberro, an established lecturer in sustainability, we will co-facilitate a session on the politics of water apartheid in Palestine and its environmental implications. The symposium will take place on May 22–23, alongside renowned academic Professor Jan Selby. Our contribution will include a presentation linking water scarcity to political choices, as well as broader themes of climate change and conflict, complemented by an interactive roundtable discussion. Through these initiatives, we seek to foster informed conversations that connect Palestine to global development and sustainability challenges.

 

Expanding our Solidarity

 

While this initiative started as a way to stand in solidarity with Palestine, our commitment goes far beyond one cause. We care deeply about all marginalised communities who suffer greatly under imperialism, colonialism, and systemic oppression. Compassion is an infinite resource, and we believe that extending care and solidarity to those in need is fundamental to building a just and equitable world. In every catastrophe; whether climate, conflict or geopolitically driven, those hit the hardest are always the most marginalised. From Palestine to Sudan, Yemen, and Congo, these struggles are deeply interconnected, and the suffering of these communities demands our attention. There is nothing radical or useful in being indifferent to the suffering of the masses.

As the great Angela Davis puts it ‘’With our oppressors uniting, it is becoming increasingly clear that all our struggles for freedom are interconnected, and that no one will be free until we are all free.’’

 

Photo by Ömer Faruk Yıldız on Unsplash

Note:  This article gives the views of the author/academic featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the Global Development Institute as a whole.

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