Labs stand empty in Israel while fate of Gazan universities hangs in balance

Amid Israel’s war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas following its surprise coordinated attacks on 7 October, research at Israel’s major universities is effectively paused. Many of the graduate and postdoctoral researchers have been called up to serve in the military, as well as some principal investigators (PIs), and many international students and postdocs have returned to their home countries. The attacks by Hamas that preceded this Israeli assault on Gaza are now estimated to have killed more than 1400 people.

Chemistry World reached out to faculty in the chemistry departments of universities in Gaza but was unable to make contact as communications with the territory have been seriously disrupted by bombing and power cuts. (The article will be updated if we receive comment from chemists in Gaza.) The Islamic University of Gaza reported heavy damage from Israeli bombing on 9 October, including ‘major’ destruction to equipment and labs, but no further information has been forthcoming. The Palestinian Health Authority estimates that Israel’s bombing and siege of Gaza has killed more than 3000 Palestinians.