Al-Isra University – Palestine participated in the workshop organized by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of the State of Palestine, in cooperation with the United Nations in Palestine, under the supervision of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with wide participation from active international institutions in Palestine, foremost among them the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), alongside representatives of Palestinian universities and major national institutions in the Gaza Strip. The workshop was held at the City Star Hotel in Gaza City and aimed to discuss early recovery methods, mechanisms, and needs for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, as well as to develop practical visions for the priorities of the upcoming phase.
The delegation from Al-Isra University – Palestine included Professor Dr. Nahid Hijazi, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Abdulfattah Qarman, Dean of Scientific Research and Libraries; and Engineer Mousa Al-Astal, international expert and Director of the Human Resources Department. During the delegation’s interventions, it was emphasized that the academic and educational sector is among the most affected sectors. The delegation reviewed the extent of the destruction that befell Palestinian universities, particularly the destruction of the buildings of Al-Isra University – Palestine and its university hospital, which dealt a severe blow to the infrastructure of higher education and the related health and educational services.
The university delegation presented a clear scientific vision affirming that the reconstruction of academic institutions must be an urgent national priority and not a subsequent phase, given the pivotal role universities play in preparing competencies, producing knowledge, and supporting the process of social and economic recovery. It also stressed that reconstruction should not merely restore the previous form but should be an opportunity to achieve a qualitative leap through the adoption of smart building concepts and infrastructure...