More Than 1,400 South Korean Teachers Condemn Israel's War In Gaza, Express Solidarity With Palestinians

More than 1,400 South Korean teachers have signed a petition denouncing Israel's war in Gaza and what they described as“genocide” against Palestinians, in a rare joint statement of solidarity linking Korea's colonial past to the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.

The statement, released Friday in Seoul, accused Israel of systematically destroying Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, and of deliberately targeting children, journalists, and medical workers. The teachers cited figures claiming that nearly 64,000 Palestinians - among them 18,000 children - have been killed over the past 23 months.

Among the signatories were members of several major education unions, including the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, the Korean Fixed-term Teachers Union, the Korean Association of Moral Education Teachers, the Korean Association of History Teachers, and a network called Teachers in Solidarity with Palestinians.

At a press conference held near the Israeli and U.S. embassies in central Seoul, speakers accused Israel of committing“educide” - the destruction of Palestinian educational institutions. They pointed to reports that 95% of Gaza's schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without access to education.

“Just as the Korean people resisted Japanese colonial rule, Palestinians have the right to resist occupation,” the statement read. The groups said their action carried special weight in 2025, the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule.

The teachers also criticised South Korean companies and government agencies for maintaining ties with Israel. They cited UN reports that Korean firms had supplied heavy machinery allegedly used in the demolition of Palestinian homes and schools.

While the South Korean Foreign Ministry has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the teachers said Seoul's continued engagement with Israeli institutions amounted to tacit approval of the war.

The petition adds to a growing wave of global protests and boycott calls against Israel, as international debate intensifies over recognition of a Palestinian state and the future of Gaza.

MENAFN17092025000205011050ID1110072908