SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: June 29, 2026

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Other

Institution(s):Birzeit University

Region & Country:Western Asia | Palestine (OPT)

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On June 29, 2026, Israeli forces forcibly entered Birzeit University, assaulting a guard and damaging property.

The forces searched campus buildings and raided the Faculty of Sports’ eastern wing.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the forced entry into a higher education institution by military forces. 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 undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172127[https://msdrnews.com/120376/اقتحام-إسرائيلي-لجامعة-بيرزيت-وتحطيم-محتويات-كلية-الرياضة-والاعتداء-على-أحد-الحراس](https://msdrnews.com/120376/اقتحام-إسرائيلي-لجامعة-بيرزيت-وتحطيم-محتويات-كلية-الرياضة-والاعتداء-على-أحد-الحراس)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-forces-raid-palestinian-university-assault-security-guard-in-occupied-west-bank/3980849