On May 18, 2022, Israeli forces raided Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie and fired tear gas at students, causing dozens to suffer from respiratory issues.
The soldiers reportedly entered the campus near the library and immediately began chasing students there while firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs. A tree also caught fire during the raid. Gate Ahram reported that clashes broke out between the students and soldiers and a video shared by Al Jazeera shows a student throwing a rock towards two soldiers from around the corner of a building. However, no injuries were reported outside of respiratory issues from inhaling tear gas. The university administration condemned the raid.
Scholars at Risk is concerned by military forces entering campus space and using force against students. While security forces have a responsibility to maintain security and safety, they must also refrain from the disproportionate use of force and ensure that their actions do not endanger civilians. Absent a compelling reason to do so, campus raids and the use of force against students undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/3518822.aspx
https://mubasher.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2022/5/20/جنديان-إسرائيليان-يهربان-من-طالب-أعزل
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/129291
https://twitter.com/PaliNewsBot/status/1526870895184207877
https://twitter.com/bani_basel/status/1526871952996110336