The Academic Senate unanimously approves a motion on the situation in Gaza

During its meeting of 16 September 2025, the Academic Senate of the University of Milan unanimously approved a motion on the violations of human rights in the Gaza Strip.

Here is the full text of the motion. 

In light of the unacceptable and continuous military operations conducted by Israel in the Gaza Strip, and particularly Israel's military plan to occupy Gaza City, following up to the resolution passed by the European Parliament on 11 September 2025, the University of Milan joins other Italian and international universities and civil society associations all over the world in denouncing the severe, repeated and proven violations of fundamental human rights in the Gaza Strip, including the use of hunger in what has now become an extermination war with catastrophic consequences. 

The University of Milan rejects the use of violence in any form. While reiterating our condemnation of the unjustifiable terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023, while calling for the release of all hostages, and holding strong that every person, people and State has a right to security, this University nonetheless reaffirms that the right to self-defence cannot, in any case, lead to indiscriminate warfare to a point that justifies the use of the word "genocide", according to authoritative actors such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the International Court of Justice. 

The University strongly condemns any act contrary to international law, such as forced displacement, the indiscriminate destruction of civilian buildings, the blocking of humanitarian aid, as well as the killing of medical doctors, paramedics and journalists. The University expresses deep concern for the recent attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, an attack intended to impede the passage of humanitarian aid for civilians, which is in clear violation of international law. 

The University also stresses the utmost need to ensure an immediate ceasefire, respect for the Geneva conventions, and the opening of safe humanitarian corridors to assist those who require urgent medical care. While reiterating the need for a political solution based on mutual respect, the University emphasises the urgency to fully enforce the resolutions passed by the United Nations, as well as the international agreements that recognise the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. But pleas and words of condemnation are worth nothing if they are not accompanied by facts. For this reason, the University of Milan decided to take action by allocating 22 scholarships to Palestinian students, most of them residents of the Gaza Strip. This is part of a national initiative that the University joined enthusiastically, contributing with its own funds to amplify the impact of this action and ensure that scholarship recipients are welcomed with dignity and solidarity. For weeks now, the University of Milan has been working daily with the competent authorities to ensure that these students can reach Italy. 

Furthermore, the University of Milan underlines the critical role played by universities in the civil society: they are not only places where knowledge is built, but most of all ethical institutions that are called upon to shape minds, not simply skills. The motto of the University of Milan — Scientia illuminans dignum — reminds us that knowledge is a responsibility: it belongs to those who use it to build justice, liberty and dignity. 

As an institution with a long history of civic and academic engagement shaped along these very principles, the University of Milan has always been looking to involve the whole academic community in education, research and cooperation initiatives aimed at building a culture of peace, justice and solidarity. In line with this established tradition, the University is launching "La Statale per la Pace", an initiative involving over 100 professors who, as part of their courses, will hold a series of lectures open to the public on the topic of peace and its applications in their respective subject areas. This initiative is intended to remind us that peace is not an abstract idea, but something real and rooted in every aspect of life. 

The University of Milan also recognises that peace is a collective undertaking. In reaffirming the central role of scientific and educational cooperation, the University of Milan reiterates that all academic cooperation agreements must be consistent with fundamental rights, the promotion of peace, as well as any other rights protected by the University Statute and Code for Research Integrity. In accordance with the above-mentioned principles and given the severe violations of human rights that are currently happening in the Gaza Strip, but also in the West Bank, the University confirms that it will not sign or renew any agreement with universities, institutions or other stakeholders that are implicated directly or indirectly in these violations. Lastly, while renewing our calls for an immediate end of the war in the Gaza Strip so as to safeguard the lives, identities and rights to self-determination of those who live there, the University of Milan commits to taking a united stance with other national and international higher education institutions in order to promote peace and respect for international law.