STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY 

WITH PALESTINE

RC05 + RC06 + RC15 + RC29 + RC37 

RC40 + RC44 + RC47 + RC48 + RC56

 

As members of RC48, RC47 and RC44, we are deeply dismayed by the indiscriminate and unceasing violence perpetrated on Palestinians in Gaza. The staggering disregard for human life and resulting tragedy since the launch of the military operation in October 2023 is beyond words. Since then the world has witnessed the death of more than 33,000 civilians (most of whom are women and children), the displacement of two million people, the destruction of entire neighbourhoods, schools and universities, hospitals, places of worship and civil infrastructure, indiscriminate murder of journalists, aid workers, and healthcare professionals, and the imminent danger of famine and starvation. Meanwhile, Western countries continue to provide military and moral support for this collective punishment which amounts to a war crime committed with possible genocidal intent, as the International Court of Justice has recently declared.

As members of RC48 and RC47, we categorically reject from the outset any indication that would portray us as prioritising one or the other side when it comes to condemning any form of atrocity targeting civilians. We unconditionally and unequivocally defend the sanctity of human life and demand justice for each and every innocent victim and their families impacted by the ongoing violence. 

Nevertheless, we also believe that the dire situation in Gaza requires an urgent and decisive response from the international community. This is why we demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people for their resilience in the face of growing human catastrophe and believe in their right to live in freedom, with dignity, and as equal citizens. The decades-long apartheid, occupation, and colonisation of the Palestinian land as well as the displacement and dispossession of its population is a grave violation of international law. It perpetuates a cycle of suffering and despair in the region. We call on world leaders to take immediate action to bring a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region in line with international humanitarian law. 

In addition to serious human rights violations, we also witness an ongoing assault on academic freedom and freedom of expression by institutions of higher education, academic journals, news outlets, and other spaces of knowledge and consciousness, especially in Western countries. These institutions either remain silent in the face of ongoing violence or subject researchers, faculty members, students, artists, journalists, and public intellectuals who oppose Israel’s actions to defamation, intimidation, and suspension. As members of RC48 and RC47, we are deeply committed to the principles of academic freedom, and we unequivocally condemn the silencing and dismissal of our colleagues for publicly sharing their views. We believe universities, other academic institutions, and associations must actively and without reserve speak out against injustice and human suffering.

Finally, as sociologists who believe in the importance of social movements and collective action for a better world, we express our solidarity with activists, scholars and all others worldwide who refuse to be silent about the ongoing human tragedy. We join their call for an immediate and lasting sustainable ceasefire. We believe that only through collective action and international pressure can we hope for a future of justice and dignity for all people.

In Solidarity,
RC05 (Research Committee on Racism, Nationalism, Indigeneity and Ethnicity
RC06 (Research Committee on Family Research)
RC15 (Research Committee on Sociology of Health)
RC29 (Research Committee on Deviance and Social Control)
RC37 (Research Committee on Sociology of Arts)
RC40 (Research Committee on Sociology of Agriculture and Food)
RC44 (Research Committee on Labour Movements)
RC47 (Research Committee on Social Classes and Social Movements)
RC48 (Research Committee on Social Movements, Collective Action and Social Change)
RC56 (Research Committee on Historical Sociology)


(*) This statement does not reflect the views of the International Sociological Association (ISA) nor all members (including Board Members) of the RCs. 
Last update: 07.10.2024.