Sociologists’ Letter on Gaza

Damage in Gaza Strip during October 2023. Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages

Israel’s devastation of Gaza is a disproportionate response to the terror attack undertaken by Hamas on October 7th which killed over a thousand Israelis, migrant workers, and foreign citizens and took over 200 people hostage. The Israeli response has killed over 15,000 Palestinian men, women, and children, with an unknown number still buried under the rubble and uncounted, and the displacement of over a million people from their homes in the north of Gaza to the south.

We understand these events as part of the ongoing Nakba, beginning in 1948, but with a longer history. The Balfour Declaration in 1917, for example, saw the British pledge to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine and there was an exponential increase in the movement of Jewish people to those lands in the aftermath of the Shoah. The Nazi regime’s systematic slaughter of Jewish populations across Europe in the 1940s followed centuries of pogroms by Europe’s Christians against Jewish minority communities. Prohibitions on the free movement of Jewish people to the UK in the aftermath of the Second World War left few options for Jewish people who no longer felt able to live in Europe. The creation of a catastrophe from ongoing European catastrophes must be acknowledged.

As sociologists, we deplore the systematic destruction of human communities. The current ceasefire provides a vital respite from the death and destruction unleashed by Israel and must become permanent with a negotiated political solution that is just to all parties. We do not believe that there is any military solution. International support will be needed to rebuild Gaza including the reconstruction of its hospitals, schools, and universities which have been destroyed. We commit to work with colleagues from the region to rebuild educational infrastructures in Gaza.

The signatories hold various positions in UK universities and in professional societies and associations but sign this letter in an individual capacity.

• Gurminder K Bhambra, President of the British Sociological Association (2022-2024) and Professor of Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies, University of Sussex
• Martin Albrow, Past President of the British Sociological Association (1985-1987) and Emeritus Professor, University of Wales
• Sara Arber, Past President of the British Sociological Association (1999-2001) and Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Surrey
• John Brewer, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2009-2012) and Professor Emeritus, Queen’s University Belfast
• Rachel Brooks, Incoming President of the British Sociological Association (2024-) and Professor of Sociology, University of Surrey
• Susan Halford, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2018-2022) and Professor of Sociology, University of Bristol
• John Holmwood, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2012-2014) and Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham
• Lynn Jamieson, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2014-2018) and Professor of Sociology, University of Edinburgh
• Sue Scott, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2007-2009) and Visiting Professor, Newcastle University and University of Helsinki
• John Scott, Past President of the British Sociological Association (2001-2003) and Emeritus Professor, University of Plymouth

Additional signatories

• Dr Finn MacKay, University of West of England
• Briony Hannell, University Teacher in Sociology at the University of Sheffield
• Ece Kocabıçak, Lecturer in Sociology, The Open University
• Eda Yazici, Research Associate, University of Bristol
• Eliran Bar-El, Lecturer in Sociology, University of York
• Alejandro Miranda Nieto and I work as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
• Dr Alan Roe, Lecturer, University of Leeds
• Marcus Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Bristol
• Balihar Sanghera, University of Kent
• Dr Mike Sheaff, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Plymouth
• Professor Hannah Jones, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick
• Bridget Byrne, Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester
• Remi Joseph-Salisbury, Reader, University of Manchester
• Professor Nick Couldry, London School of Economics
• Dr Tara Mahfoud, University of Essex
• Dr Rima Saini, Trustee of the British Sociological Association (2021-present) and Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Middlesex University London
• Dr Saleema F Burney, Research Fellow, University of Birmingham
• Rachel Cohen, Professor of Sociology, Work and Employment, City, University of London
• Stefania Vicari, The University of Sheffield
• Anna Strhan, University of York
•  Jennifer Remnant, Chancellor’s Fellow in Work, Employment and Organisation, University of Strathclyde
• Lorenzo Cini, University College Cork
• Professor Brendan Burchell, Professor of the social sciences, University of Cambridge
• Patricia Irizar, University of Manchester
• Konrad Rekas, HPL, Nottingham Trent University
• Miriam Tenquist, University of Manchester
• Maryam Alhajri, Sociology PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, and a Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
• Simon Bailey, University of Kent
• Po-Han Lee,  Assistant Professor of Global Health Studies, National Taiwan University
• Dawn Lyon, Professor of Sociology, University of Kent
• Giorgos Bithymitris, National Centre for Social Research
• Rampaul Chamba, Member of the British Sociological Association
• Dr. Lisa Howard, postdoctoral researcher, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Sadia Habib, Lecturer in Education, University of Manchester
• Bridget Anderson, Director Migration Mobilities Bristol, University of Bristol
• Caroline Casey, Assistant Professor of Work, Management and Organisation, University of York
• Chris Phillipson, Emeritus Professor, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester
• Sugandha Agarwal, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences at the University of Manchester
• Ann Phoenix, UCL
• Dr Dyuti Chakravarty, Postdoctoral Researcher, University College Cork
• Aina Tarabini, principal convenor of the BSA Bourdieu Study Group (2022-) and associate professor of sociology of education at Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Francesca Romana Ammaturo, London Metropolitan University
• Alex Law, Professor of Sociology, Abertay University
• Aerin Lai, PhD researcher, Sociology, University of Edinburgh
• Isabel Fletcher, Researcher in Social Science and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh
• Ayesha Siddiqa, Member of the British Sociological Association (2023-24) and Lecturer of Sociology, University of Sargodha Pakistan
• Syra Shakir, Associate Professor Learning and Teaching, Leeds Trinity University
• dipak (dipbuk) Panchal, PhD Candidate at University of Warwick
• Priscilla Alderson, Professor Emerita, University College London
• Mano Candappa,  University College London
• Rachel Thomson, Professor of Childhood & Youth Studies, University of Sussex
• Michael Harloe FACSS, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Salford
• Professor Gladys Ganiel, Queen’s University Belfast
• Dr. Carolina Matos, FHEA,Senior Lecturer in Media and Sociology, City University of London
• Tariq Modood, Fellow of the British Academy and Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy, University of Bristol
• Professor Nicola Ingram, University College Cork
• Leslie Sklair, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics
• Jingyu Mao, the University of Edinburgh
• Esca van Blarikom, Queen Mary University London
• Barbara Crossouard, Professor of Theory in Education, University of Sussex
• Karl Spracklen, Professor of Sociology of Leisure and Culture, Leeds Beckett University
• Professor Barry Gibson, Professor in Medical Sociology, University of Sheffield
• Taz Goddard-Fuller, Professor of Medical Education, University of Liverpool, School of Medicine
• Cailean Gallagher, Associate Lecturer, St Andrews University
• Noortje Marres, Professor of Science, Technology and Society, University of Warwick
• Piyush Pushkar, Clinical Lecturer, University of Manchester
• Dr Karina Pavlisa, University of Bristol
• Juliet Hall, Post Graduate Researcher University of Plymouth
• Alif Rafid Alfaridzi, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield
• Patricia Gilbert, University of Portsmouth
• Rev Mr Philip J Fernandez, Ontario, Canada
• Tracy Shildrick, Professor of Inequalities, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University
• Val Gillies, Professor of Social Policy, Centre for Socai Justice Research, University of Westminster
• Graham Crow, University of Edinburgh
• Salman Yaqoob, Postgrad student in Aberystwyth Business School, Wales
• Richard Twine, Reader in Sociology, Edge Hill University
• Bridget Fowler, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Glasgow
• Dr Tom Mills, Aston University
• Professor Pamela Abbott F AcSS, Director of the Centre for Global Development , University of Aberdeen
• Yingzi Shen, University of Sheffield
• Zoe Walshe, Goldsmiths, University of London
• Anna Gillions, Post-graduate researcher, Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University
• Kobe De Keere, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam
• Raquel Boso Perez, University of Glasgow
• Shannon Martin, PhD Student, The Open University
• Emily Jays, PhD Student in Education, University of Strathclyde
• Howard Davis, Emeritus Professor, Bangor University
• Asiya Islam, Lecturer, University of Leeds
• Olatunji Adigun Adebola, staff coordinator at ALAD, Liberia and a member of British Sociological Association
• Huw Beynon, Emeritus professor social science, Cardiff University
• Dr Paul-Francois Tremlett, The Open University
• Dr Caroline Oliver (SFHEA), University College London
• William Outhwaite, FAcSS, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Newcastle University
• Asma Khan, Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK
• Chrissie Rogers, Professor of Sociology, University of Kent
• Florence Villesèche, Editorial board member of Work, Employment and Society (2023-), and Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School
• Jeffrey Hyman, Prof Emeritus, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Chloe Maclean, University of the West of Scotland
• Rin Ushiyama, Lecturer in Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast
• Eamonn Carrabine, Department of Sociology, University of Essex, UK
• Hoshang Noraiee,  Retired, taught in the University of Westminster and London Metropolitan
• Ian Watt UWS – retired
• Kirsten Forkert, Birmingham City University
• Aimee Middlemiss, University of Plymouth
• Marlo De Lara, University of Edinburgh
• Amanda Latimer, Department of Criminology, Politics & Sociology, Kingston University
• Simina Dragos, PhD Candidate – University of Cambridge
• Professor Emeritus Stephen Mennell, University College Dublin
• Raphaël Nowak, University of York
• Dr Bethany Simmonds, Aberystwyth University
• Nicholas Abercrombie, Emeritus Professor, University of Lancaster
• Tony Elger, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick
• Gerard Delanty, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Sussex University
• Andrew Stevens, Associate Professor, University of Regina (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Yvette Taylor, University of Strathclyde
• Dr Chinwe Egbunike-Umegbolu, University of Brighton
• Sara Chaudhry, Birkbeck, University of London
• Dr Lila Skountridaki, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Nigel Gilbert, University of Surrey
• Kath Maguire, Member of the British Sociological Association, Public Involvement and Engagement Lead, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter
• Stevi Jackson, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology/Centre for Women’s Studies
• Doğuş Şimşek, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, Kingston University London
• Prof Daniela Sime, Professor of Youth, Migration and Social Justice, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
• Dr Sweta Rajan-Rankin, Reader, University or Kent
• Angela Loum, PhD candidate,  Goldsmiths  University Sociology department
• Annalisa Murgia, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Milan
• Alison Wilde – Senior Lecturer, Leeds Trinity University
• Suki Ali, LSE
• Julia Brannen, emerita professor UCL Institute of Education
• Professor David Weir, Professor of Intercultural Management, York St John University
• Dr Elizabeth Cotton, Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Dr Siân Russell, Newcastle University
• Andrew Baron – UCLAN
• Sharon Gewirtz, King’s College London
• Jonathan Gabe, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Royal Holloway, University of London
• Pam Law, past trustee of the BSA
• Jennie Popay, Distinguished Professor Sociology and Public Health, Lancaster University
• John Holford, Robert Peers Professor of Adult Education Emeritus, University of Nottingham
• Harriet Bradley, Professor Emerita, University of Bristol and the University of the West of England
• Syd Jeffers, University of East London
• Nasar Meer, Former BSA Trustee, Professor of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
• Janice McLaughlin, Newcastle University
• Dr Fouzia Azzouz, Honorary Research Associate, University of Bristol
• Prof. Dr. IRENA NIKAJ, University Fan S. Noli, Albania
• Professor Mark Featherstone, Head of School of Social, Political, and Global Studies, Keele University
• Les Back, University of Glasgow
• Richard Sennett, Chair, The London Centre for the Humanities
• Paraskevi-Viviane Galata, Member of the British Sociological Association and Lecturer in Sociology of work and adult education, Hellenic Open University
• Derek Williams, Retired, Former senior lecturer in Sociology, Solent University, Southampton
• Fatma Müge Göçek, Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Marianne O’Kane Boal, PhD, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland
• Kaori Muto, Professor, The Institute of Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
• Dr Sazana Jayadeva, Surrey Future Fellow, University of Surrey
• Kath Woodward, FAcSS, FLSW, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Open University
• Nigel de Noronha, University of Manchester
• Dr Niamh Moore, University of Edinburgh
• Yao-Tai Li, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
• Matthew Waites, University of Glasgow
• Wendy Olsen, Professor of Socioeconomics, University of Manchester
• Sari Hanafi, former President of the International Sociological Association (2018-2023)
• Graham Scambler, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, UCL
• Professor David James, Cardiff University
• Moslem Boushehrian, Post Graduate Researcher, University of Surrey
• Diana Khor, Hosei University
• Ikuko Tomomatsu, Visiting researcher of Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Japan
• Suvi Salmenniemi, University of Turku, Finland
• Petra Nordqvist, University of Manchester
• John Horne, Past Chair of the British Sociological Association Board of Trustees (2017-2018)
• Erin Shannon, Associate Researcher in Sociology at Newcastle University
• Richenda Power, The Open University
• Sarah Irwin, Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds
• Sonya Sharma, Lecturer in Sociology, University College London
• Professor Andrew Smith. Sociology, University of Glasgow
• Dr Evelyn Mahon, Trinity College, Dublin, Fellow Emerita
• Corinne Squire, Chair in Global inequalities, Bristol University
• Edwin van Teijlingen, Professor, Bournemouth University, UK and Book Review Editor Sociological Research Online
• Stephanie King, Nottingham Trent University
• Anne Arber, University of Surrey
• Leah de Quattro – University of Manchester (PhD Student)
• Zhuofei Lu, The University of Manchester
• Fiona McQueen, Edinburgh Napier University
• Dr María Villares-Varela FHEA, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Southampton
• Dr Luisa Gandolfo, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Aberdeen
• Robert Meadows, Editor in Chief Sociology and Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey
• Dr Helene Snee, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Christina Weis, Senior Lecturer in Global Health, De Montfort University
• Louise Ryan, past chair of the BSA board of Trustees, Senior Professor of Sociology, London Metropolitan University
• Professor Paul Stewart, Senior Professor of Sociology of Work and Employment at Grenoble Ecole de Management, former editor of Work, Employment and Society and member of the BSA
• Professor Ali Rattansi, Honorary Visiting Professor, Department of Sociology, City,  University of London
• Professor Emmanuelle Tulle, Professor of Sociology, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Sadiya Akram, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Dr Maureen McBride, University of Glasgow
• Hannah Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Sheffield
• Dr Victoria Redclift, Associate Professor of Political Sociology, Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Social Research Institute
• Prof Sam Whimster, Global Policy Institute London
• James Cummings, Lecturer in Sociology, University of York
• Caitlin Nunn, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Alexandrina Vanke, Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
• Dr Nadia Haq, Research Fellow, Cardiff University
• Professor Umut Erel, The Open University
• Ellen Annandale, Professor of Sociology, University of York
• Dr James Pattison, Research Fellow, University of Lincoln
• R.Sánchez-Rivera, Research Fellow, Gonville & Caius College-University of Cambridge
• Katie Higgins, University of Oxford
• Gethin Rees, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University
• David Scott, Abertay University
• Dr Meghan Tinsley, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester
• Leah Gilman, University of Sheffield
• Barbora Cernusakova, Hallsworth Fellow, Sociology, University of Manchester
• Dr Eleanor Kirk, University of Glasgow
• Professor Ann Oakley, Social Research Institute, University College London
• Geraldine Healy, Professor Emeritus of Employment Relations, Queen Mary University of London
• Dr Martin Crook, University of West of England
• Dr Joyce Mamode, Birkbeck, University of London
• Lena Theodoropoulou, University of Liverpool
• Sayo Mitsui, Hosei University, Japan
• Professor Kay Peggs, Kingston University London
• Carole Murphy, Director, Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery and Abuse, and Asssociate Professor, Criminology and Sociology, St Mary’s University, London
• Steven Roberts, Professor of Education and Social Justice, Monash University
• Massilia Ourabah, UGent (Belgium)
• Fiona Christie, Senior lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Carrie Friese, LSE
• Jenny van Hooff, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Baptiste Brossard, University of York
• Professor Eileen Green, Emeritus Professor Teesside University
• Isirabahenda Gonzague, PhD candidate at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Founder and Vice-President of the  International Citizens Council from Cluj-Napoca/Romania (2023-up to date) and Vice President of the Center for Peace and Violence Prevention (CPVP).
• Andrew Sayer, Emeritus Professor of Social Theory and Political Economy, Lancaster University
• Professor Stephen Vertigans, Dean of School of Applied Social Studies, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
• Stefanie Doebler, Lancaster University
• Stephen Ackroyd, Professor Emeritus, Lancaster University
• Franca Roeschert, PhD candidate, University of Greenwich
• Bill Harley, The University of Melbourne
• Maryam Aldossari, Senior Lecturer in HRM & Organisation Studies, Royal Holloway, University of London
• Louiza Odysseos, Professor of International Relations, University of Sussex
• Dr. Laura Harris, University of Southampton
• Professor Janette Webb MBE FRSE FEI, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
• Sophie Buijsen, PhD student in Science Technology and Innovation Studies at the University of Edinburgh
• Jeff Hearn, Professor of Sociology, University of Huddersfield, and Professor Emeritus, Hanken School of Economics, Finland, and Senior Professor, Örebro University, Sweden
• Diane Richardson, Emerita Professor, Newcastle University
• Angela Dale, Retired, University of Manchester
• Narzanin Massoumi, University of Exeter
• Professor Brian Heaphy, The University of Manchester
• Edmund Coleman-Fountain, University of York
• Malcolm MacLean, Academic Director (Interim), Doctoral College, University of Wales Trinity St David; Associate Professor (Extraordinary), Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof Scott Fleming    Bishop Grosseteste University
• Madoka Nagado, The University of the Ryukyus
• Dr Benjamin Bowman, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Martin Greenwood, University of Manchester
• Noirin Mac Namara, Postdoctoral Researcher, Maynooth University
• Dr. Maria Berghs, Associate Professor Global Health, De Montfort University
• Paul Watt, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics
• Dr Milena Kremakova, member of the British Sociological Association and Editor at the Sociological Review Magazine
• Sarah Neal, University of Sheffield
• Lucy Mablin, Senior Lecturer Sociology, Sheffield University
• Dr Isabel Crowhurst, University of Essex
• Wendy Stacey-Alidina, University of Wales
• Tim Butcher, Editor-in-Chief of Sociological Research Online (2023-2025) and Associate Professor of Organisation Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia
• Ashley Collar, PhD Student, Sociology at University of Manchester
• JulieWalsh, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sheffield
• Carys Hughes, University of East London
• Eileen Barker, Professor Em. Sociology, London School of Economics
• Dr Jane McCarthy, The Open University
• Dr Sarah Kunz, University of Essex
• Prof Gayle Letherby, Visiting Professor at the Universities of Plymouth, Greenwich and Bath
• Alan Petersen, Professor of Sociology, Monash University
• John MacArtney, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
• Dr Nayia Kamenou, University of Cyprus
• John MacArtney, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
• Jana Kriechbaum, PhD Researcher, City, University of London
• Sarah Hoare, University of Cambridge
• Alan Warde, University of Manchester
• Anna Smolentseva, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge
• Hugo Gorringe, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Edinburgh
• Kuba Jablonowski, Lecturer in Sociology, University of Bristol
• Rosa Targett, Lecturer in Sociology, University of Bristol
• Rebecca Coleman, Professor, University of Bristol
• Junko Yamashita, Senior lecturer, University of Bristol
• Kate Weiner, University of Sheffield
• Julia O’Connell Davidson, Professor of Social Research, University of Bristol
• Alessia Dalceggio, PhD student, School of Social Sciences and Professions, London Metropolitan University

Academics call on UK university to divest from Israel

A group of 24 academic staff in the department of sociology at the University of Manchester have called on the University to end its joint programmes with Israeli universities and divest from companies involved in Israel’s defence sector.

“We are all witness to Israel’s ongoing mass killing of Palestinians, assisted and armed by the UK government,” the staff wrote.

“The bombardment of Gaza is the latest, horrific phase of 75 years of Israel’s expulsion, occupation, dispossession, brutalisation, humiliation, incarceration without trial including of children, torture, maiming, and killing of Palestinians.”

The authors called on the University of Manchester to end its joint research fund with Tel Aviv University, citing the work it does on research and development in weapons and surveillance technologies, and in military strategy and operational theory.

They also called for the end of an exchange agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem because it hosts Israel’s army intelligence training programme, Havatzalo, and conducts surveillance of Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem.

In addition, the staff called for the school to dissolve its partnerships with the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre, GKN Aerospace and Haydale, which have ties to Israel’s defence sector.

The University of Manchester’s relationship with donors also came under scrutiny. The authors called for the school to divest from HSBC, Siemens and “all other companies who invest in Israeli weapons, military technologies, and the means of Israeli apartheid”.

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https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-alarm-over-israels-detention-70-medics-hospital