Academic boycotts targeting Israel have surged threefold over the past year, following two years of Israeli military offensives and widespread destruction in Gaza. According to Haaretz, nearly 1,000 academic boycotts have been registered worldwide, involving universities, research associations, and independent scholars, marking the most severe wave of academic isolation Israel has faced.

The increase in boycotts reflects growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, where at least 68,527 Palestinians have been killed, over 170,000 injured, and 90% of infrastructure destroyed. In response, Israeli authorities, including the university presidents’ association, have established a committee to monitor and diplomatically address the escalating boycott campaign.

Pro-Palestinian activism has intensified globally, from student strikes in Belgium calling for severed academic ties to institutions in the U.S. and Europe, to prominent universities such as Sciences Po Paris and Harvard limiting cooperation with Israeli institutions. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have acknowledged the growing international isolation of the country, which now extends beyond academia to political, cultural, and sporting arenas.