UCT should not cave into pressure over Gaza stance, say alumni group

UCT Alumni for Palestine have described the legal challenge against the institution over its stance on the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza as yet another attempt to pressure the university into rescinding its resolutions condemning state-sponsored violence and the systematic destruction of education and healthcare in Gaza.

- NICOLA DANIELS

The university has been hauled before the courts to defend two resolutions that it passed in 2024. The resolutions aimed to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

They include a “call, again, for an immediate ceasefire, the passage of humanitarian aid and the return of all captives as contained in the Senate's resolution of 17 November 2023; condemn the destruction of the education sector in Gaza and the massive scale of killing of teachers and university staff in the current war”.

The resolutions also express concern and opposition to any attempts to curtail academic freedom by labelling criticism of Israel or Zionist policies as antisemitism.

The alumni group said those who have been engaged in institutional discourse at UCT over the past year will have heard the objectives of academic freedom, funding and collegiality have been repeatedly emphasised by the Vice-Chancellor.