Second anniversary of 7 October attacks

07 Oct 2025

A message from Duncan

Dear colleagues,

It has now been two years since the terrible attacks by Hamas and the subsequent escalation of violence that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and unimaginable suffering in both Israel and Gaza. 

Many members of our community have told me of the deep distress this has caused you. We will never turn away from this and always extend our support to you. 

The recent attack in Heaton Park has only made the situation more difficult.  We grieve the loss of life and the injuries suffered by members of our Jewish community in our city.  

These events have highlighted differing and deeply held views about the conflict, and the broader geopolitical context and history in which it sits, the force of which has been expressed on our campus. Sometimes, I know, this has been difficult for many of you. It is my hope that we can continue to be a place where the hardest questions and most difficult issues can be discussed and explored in ways that reflect our core values of humanity, wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge. It is by creating a space where these conversations can happen – respectfully and with compassion - that we create the conditions for greater understanding. This is the only effective counter to hate and intolerance.  And it is at the heart of our mission as a university.  

We also have a unique position in the city to bring our community and its leaders together in dialogue, tolerance and respect, and we will continue to pursue opportunities to do so.  

If you can today, I’d like to invite you to take a moment of reflection for the people who are suffering because of this conflict, and the need for a peaceful end to the fighting. We honour the victims not only by mourning them, but by creating a society that can accommodate our differences peacefully, decently, and with a commitment to always searching for common ground.   

I encourage you to seek help if you need it. You can contact a range of services through our employee assistance programme, Health Hero with some services available 24/7, support from our Mental Health Support Team and also our Multifaith Chaplaincy Team.

Best wishes, D