St Andrews Education for Palestinian Students (STEPS) condemns the targeting of all civilians in war and supports the calls by other charities for the UK government to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. We have looked on in horror at the tragic loss of civilian life since October 7 in Israel and, overwhelmingly, in Gaza. Israeli bombing has killed over 10,000 people, nearly half of these were children. This has to stop. Our government must also demand the entry of humanitarian aid, the rescinding of the order to over 1,000,000 civilians to leave their homes, and an end to the blockade of Gaza.
STEPS was founded in 2011 and, over the years, several of our scholars have come from Gaza. They have brought their personal stories of growing up in a place where Israel controls everything, and everyone, that is allowed in or out. The economy has been strangled and the infrastructure destabilised. By 2017, three years earlier than the UN predicted, much of the population was suffering in “unliveable” conditions. And now, with no regard for the principles of International Law, a catastrophic humanitarian crisis is being created on the orders of the Israeli government. The UK government must demand an immediate ceasefire.