University of Antwerp in Belgium suspends relations with Israel

By Selen Valente Rasquinho

BRUSSELS (AA) – The University of Antwerp in Belgium on Thursday officially suspended all cooperation agreements with Israel.

"Institutions we partnered with in Israel have institutional collaborations with military officials," Rector Herman Van Goethem said in a statement.

"Therefore, general cooperation agreements have been suspended. Current research projects are being completed but may be subject to additional review by the authorized Ethics Committee," it said.

"The University of Antwerp invites its colleagues in Israel and Gaza to urge their governments to respect the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the conflict in Gaza," the statement added.

This move aligns with a broader trend among Belgian universities.

On May 28, the Free University of Brussels (ULB) also suspended its relations with Israel, pledging to maintain this stance until Israel complies with the ICJ's rulings.

The decisions by these universities come amid pro-Palestine student protests.

Demonstrations, which began at the start of the month, are ongoing at universities in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven, and Liege, demanding academic institutions to cut ties with Israel.