Ministry for Diaspora Affairs | October 2024

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Antisemitism and Indoctrination Promoting the Destruction of Israel in Higher Education in the Palestinian Authority

1 According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 200,000 students are enrolled in Palestinian universities and colleges in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. 58 2 In the Judea and Samaria region, the Palestinian higher educational system functions as a platform for inciting against Israel and for recruiting support for terrorist organizations. This leads to the presence of student cells affiliated with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, “Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades” (Fatah’s military wing), and the “Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine” (PFLP) in the universities. 3 University administrations are not doing enough to prevent pro-terrorist activities on the campuses under their supervision. Furthermore, they at times even express support for such activities. 4 Following the massacre conducted by Hamas and other terrorist organizations on October 7th, inciting calls on the social media pages of student cells were recorded. For example, the “Union of Student Councils and the Youth Movement [Shabiba] of the Polytechnic University” published a statement supporting the attack in Hebron. It stated: “In support and solidarity with our brothers, the resistance fighters. There is nothing more precious than the homeland. Stand up to support the resistance everywhere and by all possible means . Glory, honor, and eternity to the righteous martyrs. This is a revolution until victory ." 59 5 On October 27, 2023, another post was uploaded on the same Facebook page, encouraging the killing of Jews and stating that not a single Jew should remain in “Palestine.” It should be noted that the original post was later removed. 60

6 Terrorist organizations value the activities of their student cells, both as a tool for fostering widespread support and as a means of recruiting activists for the military wing. In recent years, Hamas has invested significant funds in its student cell (“Al-Kutla Al Islamiya”) to achieve victory in university elections. 7 Indeed, in the student council elections at Birzeit University held on 16/5/2023, the Hamas cell won by a landslide. 61 According to the Israeli security organization Shin Bet, Hamas leadership abroad provided financial assistance to the Hamas student cell in their election campaign, which ultimately led to their victory. 62

“We are your people, Muhammad Deif,” Hamas student cell members at the Polytechnic celebrate their election victory for the student council (2023). 63

58 https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Education2020_A.html 59 https://palwatch.org/page/34716 60 Ibid 61 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-student-elections-provide-rare-test-voter-mood-2023-05-24/ 62 https://www.shabak.gov.il/reports/publications/%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9C/ 63 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NltV7UYIbyw

42