Israeli universities and academics have faced an unprecedented global boycott since the occupation state launched its devastating war on the besieged Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of at least 43,600 Palestinians, the vast majority women and children, Israel’s Channel 12 reported yesterday.

According to the data, Belgium recorded the highest number of boycotts, reaching more than 40, followed by the United States with more than 35, Britain with more than 20 and the Netherlands with more than 15. Meanwhile, Italy recorded more than ten cases of boycotts, following an initiative launched by the Union of Academics there.
The global boycott of Israeli academia is expressed in various forms, including 50 cases in which scientific articles written by Israeli scholars were rejected, 30 cancelled lectures by Israeli academics and 30 cases in which foreign academics refused to give lectures at scientific conferences and study days organised by Israeli universities.
The data shows that in 30 cases research cooperation between Israel and foreign universities and student exchange programmes have been suspended.
The global boycott of Israeli universities encompassed many disciplines including history, law, archaeology, Jewish studies, cultures, natural sciences and engineering.
The data indicated that “the situation is particularly serious” in Belgium, where about 15 academic scholarships have been cancelled in addition to refusal to issue recommendations and reports to Israeli researchers and ignoring written or verbal messages from them.
Former Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Emmanuel Nahshon, who is in charge of combating academic boycott on behalf of the Association of Israeli Universities said “academic boycott is one of the central challenges facing Israeli universities, since October 7, in the international arena.”
He added that academic boycott has significantly escalated following the war which threatens to target the status of Israeli academia.