Doha, Qatar, 14 April 2025 — The University of Fort Hare (UFH) is at the forefront of an international effort to rebuild higher education in Gaza, co-hosting a major global conference currently underway in Doha, Qatar.
The two-day Conference on Rebuilding Higher Education in Gaza brings together various academic institutions led by Hamad Bin Khalifa University, in collaboration with the Islamic University of Gaza (Palestine), the University of Fort Hare (South African) and the University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK).
This landmark gathering reaffirms the vital role of higher education in advancing peacebuilding, social justice, and post-conflict recovery amid an ongoing war where Israel currently does not permit any resources to enter Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has severely impacted all levels of education in Gaza, with higher education institutions particularly hard hit. Universities are facing immense challenges and are struggling to operate under the current conditions, highlighting the urgent need for international support to restore basic academic functioning and safeguard the right to education.
In attendance are leaders from all major Palestinian universities — including Al-Azhar University, Al-Quds Open University, An-Najah National University, Al-Aqsa University, and the Palestinian Commission for Accreditation and Quality of Higher Education Institutions — alongside scholars, development practitioners, and institutional heads from around the world.
UFH’s involvement in the conference follows its historic decision on 14 December 2023, when it became the first university council in South Africa to publicly call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and advocate for the equitable delivery of humanitarian aid. (Read UFH Council’s Full Statement).
UFH further committed to cutting institutional ties with Israeli universities, and pledged support for academic cooperation with Palestinian institutions.
In the statement, UFH expressed solidarity with Palestinian universities, mourned the deaths of academics and students. The University Council supported calls to take the Gaza matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Filed in December 2023, the South African government’s case accuses Israel of committing genocidal acts through its military operations, including mass civilian casualties and the obstruction of humanitarian aid in Gaza. In January 2024, the ICJ issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent further harm and ensure aid reaches Gaza. Several countries, including Ireland and Chile, have since joined the proceedings in support of South Africa. The case marks a significant moment in international law, as global pressure mounts over Israel’s conduct in the conflict.
Delivering the opening plenary in Doha, UFH Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, underscored the university’s deep-rooted commitment to justice.
“UFH has been at the forefront of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles. We have been victims, and it is only natural that we support those suffering under oppression. The people of Gaza deserve our solidarity and our voice. We are here to declare: South Africa stands with Gaza.”
He further called for stronger engagement between South African universities and Palestinian scholars, highlighting the importance of student-led activism and academic partnerships.
He noted the efforts of the University of Johannesburg and noted progress at the University of Cape Town, while affirming UFH’s openness to collaborative initiatives.
However, Professor Buhlungu expressed frustration with the slow pace of action from Universities South Africa (USAf), the umbrella body for the country’s 26 public institutions.
“Only discussions are taking place, but no real actions have been forthcoming. USAf must do more,” he said, urging the body to take a more assertive role in coordinating national academic solidarity.
Since October 2023, Gaza has experienced widespread destruction and the collapse of critical infrastructure due to ongoing conflict. Yet, amid the devastation, Palestinian universities have shown remarkable resilience, continuing to educate through alternative and community-led methods.
The conference aims to address both the urgent and long-term imperatives of restoring Gaza’s higher education system, with discussions focusing on infrastructure recovery, curriculum innovation, academic mobility, equitable funding, and sustainable international partnerships.
A central focus of the conference extends beyond the widespread destruction of physical infrastructure to highlight the profound human cost of the conflict in Gaza.
Delegates emphasised that any recovery effort must account not only for the staggering death toll but also for the deep psychological trauma and remarkable resilience of survivors enduring the ongoing violence.
The discussions underscore the urgent need for a holistic approach to reconstruction—one that acknowledges the lived experiences of those caught in the devastation and supports both structural and emotional recovery.
UFH’s leadership at the conference cements its role as a continental voice for justice and academic solidarity, echoing South Africa’s broader historical commitment to freedom, human rights, and liberation.
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Issued by the University of Fort Hare’s Directorate: Marketing and Communication (D:MC).
Further information:
| JP Roodt, Director – D:MC & UFH Spokesperson E: jroodt@ufh.ac.za C: +27 (0)84 800 3136 T: +27 (0)43 704 7055 |
Aretha Linden, Journalist – UFH D:MCE: alinden@ufh.ac.za C: +27 (0) 79 077 1451 T: +27 (0)43 704 7637 |
Asaduma Baloyi, Communication Officer – UFH: D:MC abaloyi@ufh.ac.za T: +27 (0) 40 602 2033 |