To the governments of Israel, the USA and United Kingdom:

We, staff at Brighton, Sussex and other universities, cannot remain silent about the aggression against Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

This has been unabated for three and a half years, resulting in the dispossession as well as economic and psychological ruin of hundreds of Palestinian families. More than 160 families have been left without shelter.

The total number of houses demolished in Rafah since the start of the current Intifada is about 1,750.

Agricultural land and greenhouses have also been bulldozed. Roads, water and waste water networks have been destroyed.

This is also a humanitarian crisis, where food, water, milk and medical supplies are not available in the city because it is isolated from the rest of the strip.

The crisis is urgent. In the past week, tanks and bulldozers have gone deep into the city, demolishing houses, killing 25 people, 15 of them on May 18 in the Tal Sultan area in Rafah and the others three days ago, and injuring more than 100.

On May 19, ten Palestinians were killed when the Israeli army fired shells and a missile at a demonstration.

As academics, we have a responsibility to help fellow academics and students.

At present, education of any kind is impossible in Rafah because of the imminent danger of death for anyone who ventures outdoors.

We call on the Israeli government to put an immediate halt to the killings and demolitions in the Gaza Strip. We ask all people of goodwill to join us in calling for an end to the war crimes in Rafah.

Dr Andrew Chitty, Professor Mick Dunford (both University of Sussex),

-Professor Raf Salkie, Dr Barry Stierer, Judith Watson (all University of Brighton)