Birzeit University officials inspecting the damage caused to campus property following the Israeli army raid. (WAFA photo) 

RAMALLAH, December 14, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli soldiers raided early Thursday Birzeit University campus north of Ramallah and seized banners and other material for the various student blocs, according to a university press statement.

It said soldiers broke into campus at 3:45 a.m. and searched two buildings before breaking into the office of the Students Council where they seized banners and flags used by the student blocs.

The university strongly protested the army raid, which it said was an infringement on freedom of education and a violation of international conventions that ban assaults against educational facilities.

The University said that “it is gravely concerned about this barbaric intrusion and the continuation of the occupation’s systematic policy aimed at destroying educational life in Palestine by targeting its academic institutions, especially institutions of higher education, and denounces transforming its academic campus into a military garrison and seizing student belongings.”

It also called on the international community and human rights organizations to denounce this Israeli military assault on Palestinian academic life.

Israeli army units has also raided Al-Quds University campus in the town of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem.

M.K.