The 1998 Gaza Students Campaign for Academic Freedom was launched on 17 August 1998. This page offers updated information on the activities of the campaign around the world, as well as information on the petition drive initiated in Britain in March 1998. If you are interested in participating in the campaign, check out the action page for more information.

• 17 August 1998
  GSC Press Release: International students take Gazan students campaign to checkpoint

  On 17 August, the 1998 Gaza Students Campaign was officially launched. To mark the launch, 150 international and Palestinian students held a peaceful March for Academic Freedom at Al Ram Checkpoint in Jerusalem. Additional news and coverage of the march can be found in the Birzeit News section.

• 14 August 1998
  Workshop: Gaza Students Campaign workshop

  On 14 August, a workshop was held at Birzeit University for students interested in becoming campaigners. The workshop was attened by 90 Palestinian students and 80 international students.

• 16 March 1998
  HRAP Press Release: Education made 'legal' for ten students

  On 15 March 1998, ten male Birzeit University students received permits to reside in the West Bank for four months in order to continue their studies. Coordination in order for these ten students to receive their permits took over two and a half months. As of yet, there has been no confirmation as to whether more students will receive permits. Ten down, 1,290 to go!

• 8 March 1998
  AL QUDS coverage of BZU press conference (arabic)

  On 7 March 1998, the Student Council of Birzeit University held a press conference to highlight the situation of Gaza students in the West Bank. A number of local newspapers covered the event, including this article by Al Quds newspaper on 8 March 1998. (English translation available.)

• 6 March 1998
  FoBZU PRESS RELEASE

  Friends of Birzeit University in the UK presented their petitions today to the Israeli Embassy in London. Members of the Palestinian Society of Cambridge University also held a demonstration outside of the embassy to mark the handing in of the petition and protest the Israeli government's continued denial of academic permits for over 1,500 Gaza students. Find out more about what happened from their press release.

• 13 February 1998
  HARD LESSONS: Article on the Plight of Gaza Students

  Samira Barakat, coordinator of the Gaza Students Campaign at Cambridge University, writes about her experiences with Gaza students in the West Bank during the summer of 1997. The article was printed in the Varsity, Cambridge University's students newspaper, on 13 February 1998.

  
  

  Send a message to the Gaza Students Campaign at Birzeit University to be added to the distribution list for regular, up-to-date information about the campaign.