TUI conference: 'This ongoing genocide is against everything we stand for as educators'
Gaza Picture: Congress Delegates Ceasefire Motions Tommy Supported Clancy The Overwhelmingly A Tui At In Calling For
Ten-year-old Ebrahim, with bright blue eyes and shiny blond hair, already spoke seven languages before he and his entire family were killed in their home of Gaza.
Following the massacre, their remains were collected in a single bag, English teacher Tamar Famaz Nijim, who is from Gaza, told the Teacher’s Union of Ireland’s annual congress in Killarney.
Ebrahim wanted to be “one of the most famous inventors in the world” with plans to create a game to help children learn.
His sister Malak, who Ms Nijim also taught, was 16. She was learning English to help her become a doctor to heal the wounded before she was killed.
“I taught them the language of the world so that they could pursue their dreams, and yet the entire world betrayed them.
“These could have been your students or children.”
Ms Nijim, who is currently studying for a Masters in Applied Linguistics at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, called for action on Gaza at the TUI annual congress. She urged delegates to teach their students about Palestine and to use their social media accounts to raise awareness about it.
She also called for a boycott of relationships and exchange programmes with Israeli universities that support and manufacture weapons used in Gaza, and she called for a national teachers’ strike for one day to demand an end to the genocide.
“Occupation is depriving Palestinians of their right to education.
“An entire generation is being disabled, and future generations are at risk.
"Why do schools have to be shelters?
“Why do our seats have to turn into our graveyards? Why do our principal's rooms have to turn dark, and why do our clothes have to be stained with blood?
“This is a war against education.”
Delegates at the TUI congress overwhelmingly supported motions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
TUI President David Waters slammed the attacks on Gaza as "intentional and cruel violence upon children and other innocent, defenceless people" when proposing one motion.
Gaza featured at every day of the three-day congress, with numerous motions calling for peace and hundreds of teachers carrying placards with messages like ‘ceasefire now’ and ‘boycott Israel’ throughout the congress.
Another Palestinian teacher, Salem Gharbia, from ATU Sligo also addressed the congress on Thursday. He said that what was a “slow genocide” has turned into a “quick genocide” in Gaza.
“More than 33,000 people got killed, 13,000 kids. 700,000 school-age kids have been denied an education,” Mr Gharbia said.
Some 75% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed, he said. And more than 90% of educational infrastructure has been destroyed, including 12 universities, while 95 professors have been killed, he said.
"It’s a shame on humanity.
“They do not have access to food. We cannot allow this to happen.
"This ongoing genocide is against everything we stand for as educators. I really urge you to act."