McGill: mistaking its financial compass for a moral one

McGill is firmly opposed to peaceful economic resistance to Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing, and proudly reasserted it today.

At what point will McGill admit that something smells?

How would today’s McGill have reacted in the face of rising fascism and ethnic violence in European countries in the 1930s? Presumably by continuing to invest in those countries, by denying that anything was wrong, and by supporting Canada as it turned away the St.Louis.

When a university can’t call a spade a spade, and mistakes its financial compass for a moral one, is it fit to teach or perform research?

Anyway, the series of quotes and citations listed below explain the above. They show that describing the state of Israel’s actions and intent as “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” simply reflect statements made by members of the Isareli government: this is sad.

Of course, I condemn Hamas’ terror and murder of Israeli citizens – so does McGill: on this we agree.

1-McGill “clearly and firmly” rejects boycott, divestment & sanctions against Israel

“These acts [vandalism by pro-palestinian and BDS supporters on 5th February] were intended to intimidate our campus community and bully us into changing the University’s decision regarding proposals from some to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) the State of Israel. The University’s position rejecting BDS remains clear and firm. “

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor (6th February 2025). e-mail sent to all faculty, staff and students at 3.21pm

2-Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli ministers call for ethnic cleansing of Gaza and/or killing of its population

“Flanked by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on Tuesday night, Donald Trump put forward a drastic shift in American policy towards the Middle East saying the US will take over the Gaza Strip and turn it into the Riviera of the region.”

BBC report, Thomas Macintosh, https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clyn05y9x2xt (5th February)

“Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday there was nothing wrong in Donald Trump’s idea of displacing Palestinians from Gaza after the US president’s proposal drew international criticism.”

Reuters report, Kanishka Singh, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-praises-trump-plan-move-palestinians-out-gaza-2025-02-06/ (6th February 2025)

“There are no uninvolved people … we must go in there and kill, kill, kill. We must kill them before they kill us” 

Deputy Knesset speaker Nissim Vaturi, (6th May 2024), reported in The Guardian

“There are no half measures [… ] Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat—total annihilation. […] you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” 

Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich (30th April, 2024) https://www.commondreams.org/news/smotrich-gaza-annihilation

3- 64 260 traumatic deaths – principally civilians – in Gaza between Oct 7th 2023 and June 30th 2024

“We estimated 64 260 deaths (95% CI 55 298–78 525) due to traumatic injury during the study period, suggesting the Palestinian MoH under-reported mortality by 41%. […] Our findings show an exceptionally high mortality rate in the Gaza Strip during the period studied. These results underscore the urgent need for interventions to prevent further loss of life and illuminate important patterns in the conduct of the war.”

Zeina et al (2025) Traumatic injury mortality in the Gaza Strip from Oct 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024: a capture–recapture analysis. The Lancet 405.10477, 469 – 477, https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(24)02678-3

4- Definition of Genocide from Holocaust Museum

“The legal term “genocide” refers to certain acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Genocide is an international crime, according to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). The acts that constitute genocide fall into five categories:

• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
• Killing members of the group
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group”

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-about-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/what-is-genocide

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For the record, Hamas’s attacks and murders of 7th October were reprehensible acts of terrorism, I do not condone vandalism or intimidation on McGill campus for whatever reason, nor do I question Israel’s right to exist within justly negotiated borders, respecting (and being respected by) its neighbours.