Bar-Ilan University Split: Faculty Clash Over IDF Conduct in Gaza

A petition by 150 Bar-Ilan faculty accusing the IDF of “revenge” in Gaza triggered a fierce counter-response from another 150 professors, who blasted the claims as Hamas propaganda and declared full support for Israeli soldiers.

A storm is raging within Bar-Ilan University, after a petition signed by more than 150 faculty members condemned the IDF’s actions in Gaza as excessive and “driven by revenge,” calling for an immediate halt to the war.

The move ignited a swift backlash: on Tuesday, another 150 professors and faculty members issued a counter-petition, defending the IDF and denouncing the accusations as a dangerous echo of Hamas propaganda.

The Counter-Petition: ‘Our Soldiers, Our Children’

The second statement declared unequivocal solidarity with the IDF:

“We, members of the faculty, support the IDF soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip.”

The signatories argued that Israeli troops face an “impossible reality” in which Hamas systematically uses civilians as human shields, while the IDF makes extraordinary efforts to limit civilian casualties—more so than most Western armies under similar conditions.

They rejected claims of deliberate starvation as part of a “cynical campaign” orchestrated by Hamas, accusing the terror group of deliberately deepening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis for strategic leverage.

“Hamas is deliberately starving our abducted citizens to exert pressure, while simultaneously using the humanitarian crisis it created to falsely accuse Israel and the IDF of war crimes,” the counter-petition read.

Faculty Warn Against Falling for Hamas Messaging

The professors urged colleagues and the public to scrutinize information emerging from Gaza:

“Condemning our soldiers—who are our children, students, and colleagues—plays into the hands of Hamas and decreases the chances of bringing our abducted citizens home.”

The organizers stressed that their message reflects mainstream Israeli sentiment:

“The principles we expressed are self-evident. We believe the vast majority of the Israeli public supports them. Our decision to publish this petition was driven by recent statements that damage IDF morale and embolden Hamas.”

An Academic Battlefield

The clash highlights the deep divide within Israel’s academic community over the war in Gaza—mirroring broader societal tensions as the conflict continues.

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