Historical Association Faces Backlash Over Rejecting Gaza Resolution, Accused of Cowardice

The American Historical Association (AHA), the oldest scholarly society in the United States, faced severe criticism for vetoing a resolution, despite a significant majority of its members supporting the condemnation of Israel’s destruction of educational facilities in Gaza. An observer labeled the rejection as “absolutely shameful,” stemming from a technicality cited by the elected council.

Earlier this month, AHA members cast their votes 428-88 in favor of a resolution against the Israeli destruction of educational systems—what United Nations experts term as scholasticide. This term is defined as the “systematic eradication of education by arresting, detaining, or killing educators, students, and staff, and demolishing educational infrastructure,” during a 15-month offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Despite this, the AHA’s 16-member elected council decided to overturn the resolution with an 11-4 vote, with one member abstaining, as reported by Inside Higher Ed. The council had the option to either accept the resolution or to bring it before the approximately 10,450 members of the organization for a vote.

The council released a statement asserting that while it “deplores any intentional destruction of Palestinian educational institutions, libraries, universities, and archives in Gaza,” it found the resolution to be outside the AHA’s mission and purpose as it does not align with the association’s constitution and bylaws.

Anne Hyde, a council member and history professor at the University of Oklahoma, explained her vote to veto by emphasizing the need to preserve the AHA’s standing as a neutral historical entity. She mentioned to Inside Higher Ed that the complexities of the Gaza conflict, with its unresolved historical narratives, make it inappropriate for a professional group to address at this stage.

However, Van Gosse, co-chair and founder of Historians for Peace and Democracy—the group that authored the resolution—expressed deep disappointment with the council’s decision to “overturn the democratic decision” reflected in the overwhelming member support.

Rudi Batzell, a history professor at Lake Forest College, voiced his disapproval on social media, criticizing the AHA leadership for rejecting the resolution about scholasticide in Gaza despite the careful and narrow drafting to avoid such procedural objections, calling the move “Craven.”

This veto by the AHA council comes shortly after the executive council of the Modern Language Association similarly prevented its members from voting on a resolution that supported the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement for Palestinian rights, as reported by Common Dreams.