The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) shares the feelings of horror, grief, indignation, and anguish over the dramatic humanitarian crisis the Palestinian population is experiencing as a result of the Israeli government's military actions in the Gaza Strip. The brutal terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, cannot in any way justify the infliction of violence on Palestinian civilians, victims of ongoing attacks, bombings, and famine.
It condemns the actions that have caused and continue to cause thousands of civilian casualties, many of them children. It also condemns the impediments to aid access, in full violation of international humanitarian law, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure. This tragedy has led the International Court of Justice to declare a risk of violating the Genocide Convention, a finding confirmed by a United Nations special commission, which concluded that Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "present characteristic elements of genocide."
Remember that the fundamental principles enshrined in the Italian Constitution and international law require respect for human rights, the rejection of war, and the promotion of peace and cooperation among peoples.
It confirms the scientific research community's firm commitment to peace, as expressed in recent weeks by staff at public research institutions and universities, as well as various scientific and academic institutions. We make their words our own. of the appeal of the National Academy of the Lincei to “recognize the non-negotiable sacredness of the lives of children, women and men, including in the Gaza Strip.”
Expresses appreciation for the positions taken by theIsrael Academy of Sciences and Letters and come on rectors of major Israeli universities who call on the Israeli government to take clear and decisive action to preserve human lives in the Gaza Strip.
He argues that dialogue and diplomacy are the means to resolve conflicts, and emphasizes the importance of the role of scientific and cultural diplomacy as a tool for building international collaboration for peace.
The INGV is therefore committed to promoting and strengthening specific support measures for students and researchers from Palestine and other conflict-affected areas; to encouraging scientific and educational cooperation initiatives with institutions in every country to contribute to the affirmation and strengthening of a culture of peace, dialogue, and inclusion; to reaffirm the role of the scientific community, committed not only to the advancement of knowledge, but also to the protection of fundamental rights and the creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence between individuals and peoples; to uphold the very nature and foundation of science as a space for cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful and collaborative exchange between individuals and peoples, beyond all borders, all diversity, and all conflict.
