Conflict in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East

Information and support for those affected by the conflict in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East.

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This page will be regularly updated. Last updated 23 October 2024

Introduction

We are horrified by the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank and the Middle East. We join others in our community and across the world in being appalled by the loss of innocent life, suffering and devastation. Many of our staff and students have been directly affected or are deeply troubled by what is happening. We continue to support our community however we can.

We’re acutely aware of the strength of feeling and the opposing views that exist in relation to this matter and we are encouraging our community, no matter their views, to stand together during this incredibly difficult and challenging time. 

Our sincere hope is for a  peaceful resolution and an end to the suffering and loss of life. 

If you have any questions about this page or feel that any information is missing, please contact studentcommunications@sheffield.ac.uk (students) or internalcommunications@sheffield.ac.uk (staff).

Supporting our University community 

Many in our community will have been impacted or deeply troubled by the ongoing  crisis, and we are committed to supporting our staff and students in any way we can.  

The University offers a range of wellbeing and emotional support and resources for our students and staff,  including:

Support for students

We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning students to campus. At Sheffield, our community is made up of students and staff from many different cultures and backgrounds – and we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels included and safe. 

Please find below the main sources of support available to you as a student at the University. We encourage you to seek support from whichever service or services you feel are most appropriate. 

If you have any practical concerns or questions, you can contact our Student Welfare team by emailing support@sheffield.ac.uk.

If the conflict is having an impact on your ability to engage with your studies, please reach out to your academic department who can advise and support you.

For welfare, wellbeing and mental health support, the following services are available to you:

*University login required

Support for staff

Please find below the main sources of support available to you as a member of staff at the University. 

For general advice and to talk through the support options available, please speak to your line manager.  You can also contact our HR teams* who are available to speak with you about any concerns you may have. 

You may also want to explore the wellbeing resources* on the Staff Hub. These include our new Alliance Psychological Services One Plus Service. A One Plus session will support you to consider an issue that you’re currently personally dealing with and the actions you could take to increase control and to work towards an effective solution. The intention is to enable access to support in one session and have a clear action plan thereafter.

In addition, The Belief, No Belief and Religious (BNBR) Life Centre is available to staff and provides a listening ear and pastoral support to all people whatever their identity, religion, belief or no belief. 

For colleagues with line management responsibilities, please offer support to colleagues who may be affected. As well as the wellbeing resources* on the Staff Hub, you might find it helpful to refer to the looking after the wellbeing of others section on our supporting staff in times of change page*, also on the Staff Hub. There is also some general advice on wellbeing support in response to conflict, crisis or natural disaster.

If you are not sure which service to access or to refer others to, please contact staffwellbeing@sheffield.ac.uk for advice and guidance.

*staff login required

Guidance for staff supporting students

If you are a member of staff who is supporting students with concerns associated with the conflict, you may find it helpful to talk through the support options listed in the University support for students section above. The Support Hub tool is also available to help you direct students to different services depending upon their specific needs.

In addition, it may be helpful to look at our how to Help web pages on the Staff Hub*, which are designed to support and empower you to make effective and informed decisions when interacting with students in distress.

*staff login required

University of Sanctuary

The University has a long history of welcoming people seeking sanctuary. We are, and always will be, a place that is open and welcoming to students and scholars from all over the world.

We are a University of Sanctuary - this means we are part of a national network of universities in the UK that are committed to helping students and academics who are fleeing war, persecution or other disasters in their home country. We have a range of scholarships, schemes and support available and we welcome those seeking sanctuary to join our Sheffield community.

We regularly review how best we can support people seeking sanctuary and work with partner organisations throughout Sheffield, the UK and all over the world.

Reporting routes

If you experience or witness any form of discrimination, you can report it through our dedicated Report and Support platform. This is available to both staff and students. You have the option to report anonymously or using your name. 

You can use the University’s free Safe Zone app, available to staff and students, to alert University Security Services via your mobile phone if you ever need emergency, first aid or non-urgent help while on campus or in our residences.  

If you have any security concerns on campus or in the residences, call 0114 222 4444 in emergencies or 0114 222 4085 in non-emergencies. You can also email security@sheffield.ac.uk in non-emergency situations.

Throughout the duration of  the protest, our University Security Services continue to monitor the situation and are working to ensure the safety of our students, staff and visitors, and to limit the impact on people and learning.

Government travel advice and University contacts for those in the regions affected

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice is being updated regularly for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There is also separate FCDO advice regarding travel to Lebanon, in light of the current military action.  Please follow the latest advice.

If you are a University of Sheffield student and you are currently in the region, please reach out to the University for support should you need to. Email: support@sheffield.ac.uk.

If you are a member of staff and are currently in the region, please contact your line manager or head of department.

Freedom of speech and academic freedom

Freedom of speech and academic freedom - and by extension freedom of association - are fundamental to the University of Sheffield’s research,  teaching and other academic activities, and sense of community. These enable our staff and students to test the truth of the ideas that shape society, to explain important social and natural phenomena, to challenge how the world around us is understood, and to deliver our charitable objects to advance education and research. 

We are committed to promoting and protecting freedom of speech within the law. We will continue to foster an environment that encourages the free exchange of ideas, including those with the capacity to cause discomfort. This means that–as part of their work, studies, and membership of a diverse community that promotes free speech within the law–staff and students at the University should expect from time to time to confront ideas that they may find challenging, and perhaps even shocking or disturbing. 

Please refer to our Code of Practice on how the University will promote freedom of speech and academic freedom across our research and education activities.

Further information on the University’s commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom can be found on our website.

We believe our campus should be a place to discuss and explore conflicting views. Debates on divisive and sensitive topics should be respectful and we expect protesting students to be mindful of the experiences and positions of others, and consider the impact of their language and actions to ensure our University remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone. 

Freedom of speech is never an excuse for bullying, and the University will not tolerate any instances of harassment, discrimination, or any unlawful activity.

Training and resources for students and staff

A number of programmes are provided to students and staff both as part of the induction process for new students and staff, as well as regular initiatives each academic year, including:

  • Race equality training: provided to all incoming undergraduate and postgraduate taught students. 
  • ‘Hate Crime In Higher Education’ training module: available for all students and staff. The training has been developed to demonstrate how hate, hostility and harassment affect students within higher education and to help universities tackle these issues more effectively. 
  • Crime Reduction Fortnight: an annual campaign at the start of the academic year, including reminders of the University’s zero tolerance policy towards hate crime - and how to report an incident.

Listening to our University community

We are committed to freedom of speech and support members of our community to share their views on a range of issues. We have established mechanisms in place for this, including all-staff briefings and town halls, and similar events for students. We also hold regular meetings with our Students' Union sabbatical officers, who are elected to represent our student body.

In the next academic year, we will be holding additional events to hear perspectives from across our community on the multiple and complex humanitarian, environmental, economic and social crises facing the world today. Please look out for more details in the autumn.

Working in partnership with our Students’ Union

The University works closely with the Students’ Union to listen to and understand student views. This includes regularly meeting with Students’ Union Officers, elected representatives of the student body, to discuss and respond to student questions and concerns.

We continue to engage with our Students’ Union on their Another University is Possible campaign, which includes elements around their “4D’s” - Decarbonise, Democratise, Demilitarise and Decolonise. 

In addition, the University and Students’ Union collaborate on providing support to those who need it.You can read Sheffield Students’ Union statement in relation to the crisis in Israel and Gaza here.

Our work with external partners

The University has been called upon to explain its  position in relation to the crisis and its relationship with external partners. We have responded honestly and transparently and, while we appreciate some won’t agree, we feel it’s important we explain and provide further context.

The University ensures its research collaborations are appropriately conducted within the law and in line with our values. We have many partnerships with hundreds of companies, agencies, charities, campaigning organisations and academic institutions around the world. We uphold academic freedom, and empower staff and students to identify and initiate collaborations with partners across the globe that further research, innovation and international understanding. 

These partnerships can be on any subject within the law, and in collaboration with partners in any country that is not the subject of UK sanctions. Some concerns have been raised around the University’s partnerships with aerospace, engineering and manufacturing companies that work in or with the defence sector. The majority of our research with industrial partners in these areas focuses on improving manufacturing processes and materials that boost productivity and sustainability and support our regional and national economy.

We recognise that some of our research projects with partners could have a dual use for civilian and military purposes, and we undertake research related to defence and global security challenges.  However, new and ongoing research partnerships undergo stringent due-diligence processes. Individual research projects are subject to scrutiny and oversight which assesses legal status, credit checks, links to sanctioned countries, corporate governance, legislative requirements and checks on key individuals. 

Read the message from our Vice-Chancellor, Koen Lamberts: Our work with external partners | News | Staff hub (sheffield.ac.uk)

Our approach to investments 

Staff and students have also asked about the University’s approach to investments. We are committed to investing our funds on a socially responsible basis and have an ethical investment policy, with an annual compliance statement and impact report. Read the Annual publication of Endowment Investment Funds 2022-23