Reference number: 53/2023
Date: June 21, 2023
Native language: Arabic
Press release
Students’ frameworks confirm that obstacles to holding student council elections in Gaza institutions have been solved.
During a workshop organized by The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (Hashd)
In a pleasant environment.
They emphasize the need of upholding the solid consensus among student frameworks on holding student council elections in Gaza universities.
Student leaders reaffirmed their commitment to holding student elections in all universities at the same time, using the full proportional representation system, and without compromising any university to create a successful electoral process that strengthens the principles of partnership, democracy, and citizenship in Palestinian society.
They pointed out the importance of having student councils to improve democratic behavior among students and achieve the desired goals and objectives of the presence of councils, which are based on participation in developing the student’s conscious personality in various scientific, religious, and national fields, strengthening belonging to the university, the country, and the nation, and representing the student body and adopting its issues and aspirations.
This was revealed at The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights “Hashd” workshop today, Thursday, headlined “Prospects for Conducting Student Council Elections in Gaza Universities,” which was attended by student frameworks, students, and young activists.
Mr. Arafat Abu Zayed, the former Student Staff Secretariat Coordinator, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of this meeting, which comes in a positive atmosphere about its completion in the Gaza Strip’s universities, which has not seen any elections in 17 years.
This resulted in university administrators infringing on students’ rights and interests within institutions, as seen by restrictions on free expression, arbitrary dismissal, halting student activities, and other anti-student policies.
Dr.Salah Abd El-Atei, head of the International Commission “Hashd,” for his part, confirmed that elections are a right for students and that it is time for the student movement to reactivate, indicating that this meeting is a continuation of previous mobilization efforts and the rest of the national and societal efforts to hold elections in Palestinian universities.
Abd El-Atei Ali demonstrated the importance of overcoming all obstacles and difficulties in the way of holding student elections in Gaza Strip universities this year, similar to the student elections held in the West Bank because they are an encouraging step toward holding general elections (presidential and legislative), as well as an opportunity to develop the General Union of Palestinian Students. He urged the youth and student participants to follow up, continue, and exert pressure to guarantee that elections are held, which helps to grow the student movement and lends support to national reconciliation efforts.
According to Mr. Salim Al-Agha, National Relations Officer in the Fatah Youth Movement, “In the past, there were many obstacles and challenges for everyone related to the elections for student councils, and the majority at the time were trying to defend their political organization against their political opponent, but now the matter is completely different, as more than 90% has been achieved in the document of understandings between student frameworks sponsored by the Independent Commission for Human Rights, which had a role in overcoming obstacles and bringing points of view closer.
And he indicated that those sessions were dominated by clarity and transparency, during which they discussed the ambition and obstacles to holding student elections that have been missing for more than 17 years, indicating that these sessions focus on three axes: the reality of public freedoms, the reality of general elections, and the timetable for holding elections.
Al-Agha stated that all that remains is the final signature and some formalities and that we have reached the stage of setting the timetable and agreeing on a date for the start of the elections in the Gaza Strip, as the elections will be held in universities eligible to hold elections during the first semester.
Eng. Muhammad Al-Farra, coordinator of the Islamic Bloc in the Secretariat of Student Frameworks, spoke about the Islamic Bloc’s position on holding student elections, emphasizing that it is ready for elections based on the system of female representation in all universities and colleges without hesitation or delay to re-energize the student movement, which has been dormant for 17 years.
In addition, he stated that during the previous six months, a series of observations were made about the discount rate, the freedom paper, and the timetable for holding student elections in the 29 universities and colleges, noting that they demonstrated high flexibility in dealing with and understanding in a large way to sign the understandings of the document between the student frameworks.
He claimed that the student blocs indicated a genuine intent and dedication to the success of the elections during the talks and that they made observations about the system and carefully examined it.
According to Mahmoud Abu Samaan, the Islamic League’s representative in the Secretariat of Student Frameworks, the Zionist occupation is attempting to obliterate our Palestinian identity and to differentiate between the Palestinian people, as well as between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, so it is necessary to miss the opportunity and hold student elections in all universities in the Gaza Strip.
He added that there has been significant progress and acceptance from student frameworks and political leadership to have elections within institutions.
Abu Samaan emphasized that our attitude has been clear from the start and that we would not be an impediment to having elections. We will also support all attempts to hold elections, as well as the relentless efforts of students and political leaders to support student councils inside institutions.
Mr. Musa Al-Saud, a member of the Student Unity Bloc leadership, for his part, stated: “The dialogue sessions that took place since the beginning of this year were not a reaction to the holding of elections in the University of the West Bank, but rather came with months of continuous efforts between the student frameworks, and before that with the political leadership, as the atmosphere was conducive and positive for agreement and by 90% on a document of understandings between all frameworks.
He explained that the next stage will be a stage for building student frameworks, as there is a great case of cooperation between student frameworks and the student frameworks secretariat to agree on holding elections, and preparing the final arrangements necessary to reach a unified electoral system, a clear schedule for holding elections in Gaza Strip universities, and creating the necessary atmosphere.
Al-Saud went on to say that this is the first step toward holding comprehensive and general elections, pointing out that universities are suffering from various student concerns that need us banding together in the framework of a comprehensive union campaign to transform the situation at universities.
Finished.
