President of Al-Israa University–Palestine Participates in Meeting on the Reality and Future of Higher Education in the Gaza Strip
Gaza – Public Relations
Professor Dr. Alaa Matar, President of Al-Israa University–Palestine, participated in a meeting organized by the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) titled “The Reality and Future of Higher Education in the Gaza Strip: Challenges, Interventions, and Paths to Recovery.” The meeting was attended by university presidents and representatives from universities across the Gaza Strip, as well as representatives of several civil society organizations, and was held via Zoom video conferencing.
During his intervention, Professor Dr. Alaa Matar highlighted the significant challenges facing higher education in the Gaza Strip in light of the extensive destruction of university buildings, the loss of many academic and administrative staff members, and the destruction of universities’ resources, laboratories, and educational facilities.
He explained that Al-Israa University–Palestine has suffered extensive destruction and damage affecting both its university buildings and university hospital. Some university buildings that sustained partial damage remain inaccessible and cannot yet be reached, posing a major challenge to restoring the educational and research processes to their normal capacity.
Professor Dr. Matar emphasized that, despite the scale of the destruction and the exceptional challenges, Al-Israa University–Palestine has continued its academic and research journey. The University has successfully resumed the educational process and graduated hundreds of its students through the adoption of a blended learning model that combines online and face-to-face education.
He further noted that the University currently continues to fulfill its academic mission through a temporary building in Gaza City, enabling it to continue providing educational services and allowing students to pursue their studies. He reaffirmed that the University remains committed to carrying out its mission despite the difficult circumstances, driven by its belief that education is a fundamental right and that the continuity of higher education is a key pillar of recovery and the development of individuals and society.
Professor Dr. Matar stressed the urgent need to provide immediate and sustainable support to universities in the Gaza Strip to help them restore their infrastructure and academic and research capacities, enabling them to continue serving students and the wider community. He affirmed that investing in education is an investment in the future of Palestine and in its capacity to recover, rise again, and rebuild.