Dozens injured as Israeli Forces Raid Birzeit University, Disrupt Academic Activities

Israeli forces on Tuesday stormed Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, leaving several Palestinian students injured and drawing sharp condemnation from education authorities over what they described as a breach of international law.

Palestinian officials said the raid took place during academic hours, disrupting lectures and other activities as soldiers entered the campus. At least three students were wounded by live gunfire during the operation.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed that its medical teams treated three students who sustained gunshot injuries to their legs before transferring them to hospital for further care.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli troops fired live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades while advancing into the university, forcing students and staff to flee classrooms and offices. The widespread use of tear gas caused dozens of students to suffer breathing difficulties, with several collapsing amid panic on campus.

Birzeit University’s public relations officer, Nirdin Al Mimi, said two additional students were injured after falling while trying to escape the chaos, while others suffered suffocation from tear gas exposure. She noted that about 8,000 students were on campus at the time, underscoring the scale of the disruption.

Al Mimi added that soldiers damaged the university’s main gate and entered multiple faculties and buildings. She also confirmed that equipment belonging to the student movement was confiscated and that arrests were made during the raid.

University authorities further disclosed that Assem Khalil, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, was detained by Israeli forces, raising concerns about interference in the institution’s administration.

In response, the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education strongly condemned the operation, describing it as a clear violation of international conventions that safeguard educational institutions.

In a statement, the ministry said attacks on universities constitute an assault on the right to education and undermine the protection granted to academic spaces under international law. It warned that repeated incursions threaten student safety and disrupt the continuity of learning.

The ministry stressed that such actions would not weaken the resolve of Palestinian universities, students, or staff, reaffirming their commitment to education despite ongoing challenges. It also renewed calls on international academic bodies, human rights organisations, and global media to expose and help halt what it described as systematic attacks on higher education institutions in the occupied territories.