Statement by OGS in Support of Peace in Palestine and Commitment to Scientific Diplomacy

The Board of Directors of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, adhering to the joint declaration of the Presidents of the Public Research Institutions, and acting on behalf of the concerns expressed by its staff regarding the current humanitarian crisis in Palestine:

• shares the feelings of horror, sorrow, indignation and anguish over the dramatic humanitarian crisis that the Palestinian population is enduring as a result of the military actions undertaken by the Israeli Government in the Gaza Strip and the violation of human rights in the Palestinian territories;
• considers that the brutal terrorist action carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 cannot in any way justify what is being inflicted upon Palestinian civilians, victims of continuous attacks, bombardments and famine;
• condemns the actions that have caused and continue to cause thousands of civilian casualties, including a great many boys and girls;
• further condemns the obstruction of access to aid, in full violation of international humanitarian law, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure;
• recalls that the International Court of Justice declared the alleged violation of the Genocide Convention, a position confirmed by a special commission of the United Nations, which concluded that Israel’s warfare practices in Gaza “display characteristics of genocide”;
• recalls that the fundamental principles enshrined in the Italian Constitution and in international law require respect for human rights, the rejection of war, and the promotion of peace and cooperation among peoples;
• reaffirms the firm commitment of the scientific research community to peace, as expressed in recent weeks by the staff of Public Research Bodies and Universities, as well as by various scientific and academic institutions;
• shares the words of the appeal by the National Academy of the Lincei to “recognise the non-negotiable sacredness of the lives of children, women and men, including in the Gaza Strip”;
• expresses appreciation for the positions taken by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and by the rectors of some of the leading Israeli universities, calling on the Israeli Government to undertake clear and decisive initiatives to preserve human lives in the Gaza Strip;
• maintains that dialogue and diplomacy are the means for resolving conflicts, and underlines the importance of the role of scientific and cultural diplomacy as a tool for building international cooperation in support of peace;
• considers that OGS, as a public research body, must play an active role of ethical and institutional responsibility, consistent with its mission of service to the country and to the international community;

IT THEREFORE COMMITS ITSELF

• to review existing agreements with Israeli institutions and to carefully assess any new collaborations with bodies and companies that contribute, even indirectly, to the perpetuation of violations of international law, thus avoiding the conclusion of new scientific, technological or academic agreements with such entities;
• to promote and strengthen specific support measures for students, researchers and academics from Palestine, as well as from other conflict-affected areas, including through the establishment of dedicated scholarships and research appointments;
• to encourage initiatives for scientific and educational cooperation with institutions from every country in order to contribute to the promotion and strengthening of a culture of peace, dialogue and inclusion;
• to reaffirme the role of the scientific community as committed not only to the advancement of knowledge, but also to the protection of fundamental rights and to the creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence among individuals and peoples;
• to support the very nature and foundation of science as a space for cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful and collaborative exchange among individuals and peoples, beyond all borders, all differences, and all conflicts.