- Türkiye sends a message of “brotherhood” to Gaza, where people are holding on to science amid the ruins

- Gaza’s universities appeal to Türkiye: “We are standing strong thanks to this support and love”

- A Science Café event was held under the coordination of CoHE to strengthen solidarity with universities in Gaza

- CoHE President Erol Özvar:

- “Buildings may be destroyed; classrooms, laboratories, and libraries may be damaged. But the determination to learn, scientific thinking, and belief in the future that make up a university can never be destroyed”

- “The people of Gaza and Palestine will undoubtedly rise again. Türkiye, with its state institutions, universities, academics, and students, will continue to stand by the Palestinian people throughout this process”

- Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education Amjad Barham highlighted the importance of online infrastructure support to enable students in Gaza who have been deprived of education to regain access to learning

September 3, 2026

The “Solidarity Program with Gaza Universities,” organized under the coordination of CoHE in Gaziantep to strengthen solidarity with students, academics, and universities striving to keep education, science, and academic life alive in Gaza despite all the difficulties, was held in Gaziantep.

The Science Café event, hosted by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University at the Müzeyyen Erkul Gaziantep Science Center, was attended by CoHE President Erol Özvar and Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education Amjad Barham, while university administrators from Palestine joined the meeting online.

The meeting was moderated by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University Rector Prof. Şehmus Demir and was also attended by Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin.

Rector of the Islamic University of Gaza Prof. Assad Yousuf Assad, Rector of Palestine University Prof. Salam Al-Agha, Rector of Gaza University Prof. Hasan Abu Jarad, Rector of Isra University Prof. Alaa Muhammed Matar, Rector of Al-Aqsa University Prof. Ayman Subh, and Rector of the University College of Applied Sciences Prof. Mohammad Mushtaha also joined the meeting online, where barriers were overcome through the universal power of science.

Speaking at the program, Özvar said universities, academics, and students have supported the Palestinian people’s just struggle through numerous programs, scientific meetings, academic studies, and solidarity activities to date, adding that this support would continue.

Drawing attention to the strong determination demonstrated by students and academics in Gaza despite the extremely difficult circumstances, Özvar said students were striving to continue their education while academics were trying to teach classes and continue their scientific activities with the limited resources available to them.

Emphasizing that educational activities being carried out in tents, temporary locations, and the limited number of structures that remain standing are among the clearest demonstrations of the Palestinian people’s determination to safeguard their access to knowledge and their future, Özvar said:

“Buildings may be destroyed; classrooms, laboratories, and libraries may be damaged. But the determination to learn, scientific thinking, and belief in the future that make up a university can never be destroyed.”

Stating that a university is not merely an institution consisting of buildings, Özvar said, “A university is a living organism made up of its students, academics, accumulated knowledge and thought, collective memory, and hope for the future.”

Özvar said that what is keeping universities alive in Gaza is the strong determination not to give up on education and science despite all the impossibilities.

- “Rebuilding Gaza means more than reconstructing buildings”

Özvar said that Gaza’s recovery would mean more than simply rebuilding destroyed buildings, adding that the city’s educational institutions, universities, scientific capacity, and academic human resources must also be strengthened once again.

“As Türkiye, we will continue to stand by the Palestinian people throughout this process, led by our President of the Republic,” Özvar said, emphasizing that the “Solidarity Program with Gaza Universities” was not merely an event intended to draw attention to the current situation.

Özvar said the program aims to convey the voices of Gaza’s universities directly to Turkish society and establish a lasting foundation for solidarity between universities in Türkiye and higher education institutions in Palestine.

- Gaza on the agenda in September

Özvar said that, as CoHE, they had dedicated the September agenda of Science Café events at universities to Gaza.

Announcing that Science Café meetings would be held at universities across Türkiye between September 1 and 21 as part of the “Solidarity Program with Gaza Universities,” Özvar said the events would explore the theme “Existing as a University in Gaza” from multiple perspectives.

Özvar said the current situation of universities in Gaza, the struggle of students to continue their education, the efforts of academics to maintain their scientific work, and the future of Palestinian higher education would be shared with the public. He added that they did not want universities to address the issue solely as an academic matter.

- “We will bring Gaza’s voice to Türkiye”

Özvar said academics would use their scientific expertise to explain the different dimensions of what is happening in Gaza to society. He added that the issue would be discussed not only on university campuses or in conference halls but also in city squares, cultural centers, public gardens, village coffeehouses, libraries, and every setting where people come together.

Noting that this is where the significance of the Science Café initiative becomes apparent, Özvar said academics meet with citizens at these gatherings and share scientific knowledge through informal, two-way conversations.

“This time, Science Cafés will carry the voices of Gaza’s students, academics, scientists, and universities to every corner of Türkiye,” Özvar said, adding that the struggle to sustain education in Gaza would be shared with all segments of society and that solidarity with the Palestinian people would be further strengthened through the opportunities offered by knowledge and science.

- Solidarity to evolve into lasting academic partnerships

Emphasizing that their efforts would not be limited to raising awareness, Özvar said they aim to develop long-term and institutional academic partnerships between universities in Türkiye and higher education institutions in Palestine.

“We want to establish a sustainable model of solidarity extending from direct assistance to lasting academic cooperation,” Özvar said, adding that they would continue working on online course support, academic mentoring, access to digital libraries and research infrastructure, joint research and publication activities, postgraduate education opportunities, and researcher training programs.

- “Today’s students will rebuild tomorrow’s universities”

Özvar said one of the most lasting investments that can be made in Gaza’s future is supporting the young people who are striving to continue their education today. “The people of Gaza and Palestine will undoubtedly rise again. Universities will resume providing education, students will return to their classrooms, libraries will reopen, and scientific research will come back to life,” Özvar said.

Özvar emphasized that Türkiye, with its state institutions, universities, academics, and students, will continue to stand by the Palestinian people throughout this process.

- Palestinian Minister: “We need online education infrastructure”

Speaking via video connection at the program, Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education Amjad Barham said developing online infrastructure is among the most urgent needs for students who have been deprived of education in times of war to regain access to learning.

The Minister said Türkiye could play an important role in this area, adding that they also expect Palestinian students in Gaza to receive support similar to that provided to Palestinian students studying in Türkiye.

Barham emphasized that higher education students in Gaza need financial, strategic, and psychological support. He said students had lost contact with their families because of the war, were facing extremely difficult economic conditions, and that universities’ assets, projects, and academic activities had also been damaged.

Barham said the meeting would be an important starting point for future cooperation.

Stressing the importance of maintaining higher education despite all these circumstances, Barham thanked Türkiye for the support it has provided to date.

- Gaziantep Governor Çeber: “Our hearts are there”

Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber said solidarity with Gaza and Palestine continues to be maintained strongly.

Çeber said Gaziantep is ready to stand by its Palestinian and Gazan brothers and sisters with all the resources at its disposal, particularly in education, healthcare, industry, and youth affairs.

“Our Palestine is crying, our Gaza is crying, and our hearts are there,” Çeber said. He expressed his hope that the next gathering would be held in a free Gaza.

- Fatma Şahin: “We are at your service”

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin shared her personal experience of Gaza in her remarks, recalling that she had visited Gaza in 2007 as Secretary-General of the Palestine Friendship Group.

Şahin said what is happening in Gaza cannot be viewed merely as a war, adding, “This is not a war of Muslims; it is a war for humanity.”

Saying that the world is facing a test of humanity, Şahin said, “None of us are innocent in a world where children are dying and being killed. That is why we must all rise together.”

Emphasizing that they are ready to fulfill their responsibilities as Gaza’s sister city, Şahin said, “As Gaza’s sister municipality, as a mother and as a mayor who stands for humanity, we want to say that we are at your service.”

Şahin expressed her hope for the future of Gaza’s children, saying, “When the children of Gaza look up at the sky, they will not see warplanes; they will fly kites.”

Saying she believed Gaza would rise again by drawing strength from the difficulties Gaziantep itself had experienced in the past, Şahin said, “With this faith, this conviction, and this unity, God willing, He will let us see those days in Gaza as well.”

- GIBTU Rector Prof. Demir: “This initiative will pave the way for concrete cooperation”

Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University Rector Prof. Şehmus Demir highlighted the significance of the event, which brought universities, the leadership of CoHE, and the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education together on the same platform for the first time in Türkiye.

Prof. Demir said the meeting represented an important starting point for developing concrete forms of cooperation with Palestinian higher education, emphasizing that supporting students and academics in Gaza is, above all, a humanitarian responsibility.

- “We are standing strong thanks to this support and love”

Islamic University of Gaza Rector Prof. Assad Yousuf Assad said the meeting once again demonstrated Türkiye’s sense of brotherhood toward Palestine, adding, “We are standing strong and will continue to stand strong thanks to this support and this love.” Assad said that, alongside psychological support for students and academics in Gaza, maintaining online courses is also of great importance.

- “Our motivation has not faded despite the destruction”

Palestine University Rector Prof. Salam Al-Agha emphasized that universities have maintained their determination to provide education despite the extensive destruction, saying, “Despite the destruction, our universities’ motivation has not faded.”

Al-Agha said students and academics have very high morale, adding, “Despite all the suffering and the ruins of the buildings, students are encouraging their professors to continue providing education.”

Al-Agha said Türkiye’s support for the Palestinian people is a major source of motivation for them, adding, “Türkiye is walking alongside the Palestinian people. It keeps walking. This motivates us.”