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— Students at Ashoka University in India have joined the growing global outcry against the conflict in Gaza, urging their institution to sever all academic and research ties with Tel Aviv University in Israel.

 

In a letter addressed to the vice-chancellor, the Ashoka University student government expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Gaza, citing a death toll of at least 34,596 Palestinians and 77,816 injuries attributed to the Israeli military's actions.

 

The students called for an end to what they perceive as collaboration with institutions allegedly involved in human rights violations, stating that such partnerships undermine the university's commitment to justice and human rights.

 

The letter referenced the recent protests at Columbia University in the United States as an example of the growing student movement urging universities to boycott Israeli institutions and engage in open dialogue about the conflict in Gaza.

 

Ashoka University, located in Sonipat, Haryana, reportedly maintains research partnerships with Tel Aviv University, including faculty visits, student mobility programs, research collaborations, and joint programs.

 

The students demanded that these ties be severed until tangible steps are taken to address the alleged ethical concerns surrounding Tel Aviv University's relationship with the Israeli military and its support for the occupation of Palestinian territories.

 

The student government's petition also highlighted the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates for the boycott of companies and institutions accused of complicity in the conflict.

 

The petition claimed that Tel Aviv University, while Palestinian universities have reportedly faced demolition, continues to stifle conversation around Palestinian issues and allegedly receives funding from ties with weapons manufacturers and Israeli intelligence agencies.

 

The students asserted that Tel Aviv University, like any academic institution, has a responsibility to uphold principles of academic freedom, social justice, and human rights.

 

They argued that by maintaining ties with a university allegedly linked to systematic human rights abuses, Ashoka University is complicit in these violations.

 

Amid international concerns over the conflict, the students urged Ashoka University to demonstrate its commitment to ethical conduct and human rights by severing ties with Tel Aviv University.