Why we signed a petition asking for Israel to be suspended from the astronomy Olympiad

Last month, we both signed a petition addressed to the president of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aniket Sule, drawing attention to Israel’s flagrant violations of international law, the systematic destruction of Gaza’s educational infrastructure and the killing of many tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children.

The petition requested that the board adopt a resolution to suspend Israel from the IOAA – an annual international competition for high school students on astronomy and astrophysics – until it complies with international law. This resolution was discussed and adopted by the international board of the IOAA with an overwhelming majority; Israeli students will now still be allowed to participate in the competition, not under their flag, but as individuals.

Hundreds of scientists across the globe supported this petition.

The international body of the IOAA is a group of astronomers and astrophysicists from countries all over the globe. The conclusions it reaches cannot, on the face of it, have any significant impact on geopolitics. This is almost always true – but not this time.

We are witnessing something unprecedented: a long-suffering people corralled in a small strip of land, deprived of humanitarian aid and sequestered from the press, are being systematically exterminated. Medics and journalists have been targeted. Schools, universities, and...

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