American Historical Association Council vetoes resolution about ‘scholasticide’ in Gaza

The council of the American Historical Association (AHA) vetoes a resolution passed earlier this month condemning Israel’s “scholasticide” in Gaza.

The resolution, which was approved 428-88 at the AHA’s annual conference, accused Israel of intentionally destroying the Palestinian enclave’s education system amid the 15-month war against Hamas.

However, that resolution was subject to the approval of the AHA council. Last Friday, the council concluded that the measure “contravenes the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws, because it lies outside the scope of the Association’s mission and purpose.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which had tried to intervene to block the resolution’s approval, welcomed the council’s decision.

“The resolution would not only alienate many members but also deviate from the
@AHAhistorians’ core purpose and undermine the AHA’s credibility as a source for evidence-based, nonpartisan historical perspectives,” the ADL wrote on X.

The resolution had accused Israel of destroying “80 percent of schools in Gaza, leaving 625,000 children with no educational access… all 12 Gaza university campuses… Gaza’s archives, libraries, cultural centers, museums, and bookstores, including 195 heritage sites, 227 mosques, three churches, and the al-Aqsa University library.”

Israel has repeatedly denied targeting Gaza’s civilian infrastructure without military justification, saying Hamas and other terror groups routinely base their operations in civilian sites including schools, hospitals, homes and mosques. It says it has no choice but to strike such sites when they are used for military purposes as it pursues its war aim of toppling Hamas.

The council said it “deplores any intentional destruction of Palestinian educational institutions, libraries, universities, and archives in Gaza.”