Remembering Stephen Hawking
March 14, 2018“Like in South Africa”: Stephen Hawking on Palestine
This Wednesday, Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned physicist and friend of Palestine, passed away at the age of 76. We take this occasion both to mourn his death and to recall how he applied his keen mind and commitment to justice to the tragedy in Palestine. Following the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip of 2008-9, “Operation Cast Lead,” Hawking shared his perspective with Al Jazeera. “Almost a hundred Palestinians have been killed for every Israeli,” he said. “The situation is like in South Africa before 1990. It cannot continue.”
Below you will find this interview and other traces of Hawking’s thoughts on this issue over the years, compiled by the staff of the Palestine Chronicle.
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From the Palestine Chronicle:
By Palestine Chronicle Staff
Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist, and ambassador of science passed away last night, aged 76.
Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology’s brightest star, dies aged 76 https://t.co/z0NcIdM5iy
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 14, 2018
Considered by many to be among the world’s greatest modern scientists, he probed the mysteries of the universe in his wildly popular books, including the landmark “A Brief History of Time”.
Stephen #Hawking joins academic boycott of #Israel http://t.co/1QJaqeTYpT #BDS #Palestine
— BDS Movement (@BDSmovement) May 8, 2013
Stephen Hawking was a friend of Palestine and he publicly condemned the Apartheid State of Israel, calling for an academic boycott in 2013.
Retweeted The IMEU (@theIMEU):
Physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking posted a link today asking his… https://t.co/HMFQSyHjfk
— Rania Masri (@rania_masri) February 13, 2017
In 2017, he posted a link on Facebook asking his followers to help support science students in Palestine.
A advocate of BDS, Stephen Hawking was also promoting physics education in Palestine #StephenHawkingRIP pic.twitter.com/612MVJnNbX
— Palestine Observer (@PalObserver) March 14, 2018
The world famous British Scientist was a long-standing supporter for Palestine, young physicists and Birzeit University. Hawking visited the University in 2006 and lectured hundreds of faculty members and guests, and thousands of students, and joined the academic boycott of Israel.
When visiting the Palestinian University, Hawking advocated for the right to academic freedom in a press release published by Modoweiss. He praised Palestinian scientists, saying, “I support the rights of scientists everywhere to freedom of movement, publication and collaboration.”
Stephen Hawking (RIP) on Palestine “ A people under Occupation will continue to Resist “ https://t.co/SOEm45hbmz
— Irish For Palestine (@NYCelt) March 14, 2018
Since the news of his death, there has been an outpouring of messages of adoration and grief for Hawking’s death, and his brave in principled stand for Palestinian freedom.
(PC, Social Media)
