Under the patronage of HE President Mahmoud Abbas, the Supreme Commander of the Palestinian Security Forces, Al-Istiqlal University organized the graduation ceremony of the tenth batch of bachelor students, "Defenders of the Flag".
The ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Ziad Abu Amro, the Deputy Prime Minister and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, HE Maj. Gen. Tawfiq Al-Tirawi, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Lt. Gen. Jibril Rajoub, the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, Mr. Jihad Abu Asal, the Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Prof. Dr. Saleh Abu Osba, the President of Al-Istiqlal University, Maj. Gen. Talal Dweikat, the General Political Commissioner, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Palestinian security services, at the Martyr Mamdouh Saidam Sports Hall inside the campus of the University.
Maj. Gen. Al-Tirawi sent two messages, one of them to the students, saying, "You are now going out from the field of knowledge to the field of work, to practice what you have learned throughout your studies, and to arm yourself with the values of loyalty, belonging, commitment and discipline, to protect the land and honor and to preserve human rights and freedoms."
The other message was “ it would be illusory to think that the Fatah movement is fragmented or dilapidated, because it is capable to face challenges with its leadership, cadres, fighters, revolutionaries, and all its affiliates, and we praise the efforts of the Palestinian security system in building and upgrading the Palestinian national institutions."
Furthermore, Dr. Abu Amro congratulated the graduate students, wishing them a promising and prosperous future and that Al-Istiqlal University is being prioritized by the president and the Palestinian government. Also, he said that the University was able to dig its mark and become a scientific stronghold that competes with local and regional universities, through its uniqueness with an integrated model that combines the academic and military aspects.
Moreover, Prof. Dr. Abu Osba expressed his happiness to celebrate this distinguished event, which bears the mark of independence by defeating the Israeli occupation, realizing the dream of returning from the river to the sea, and completing the march of struggle that our martyrs shed with their blood, and our valiant prisoners, besides the establishment of the state and its capital, Al-Quds Al-Sharif, praising the prominent role of national institutions in achieving the University’s mission and translating its vision into reality.
And, he pointed out the remarkable and tangible progress that the University is witnessing at the educational and infrastructure levels, its achievements, and its endeavors to develop qualitative disciplines, as it started its journey with four programs, and today it hosts 23 programs distributed between graduate studies, bachelors and diplomas, and intends to offer eight others during the coming period.
The student Yusra Mashaki, majoring in international and diplomatic relations, made a powerful speech on the behalf of the graduates, expressing her in being the daughter of "Al-Istiqlal University", adding, "In the name of my colleagues, we thank the founding father, HE Maj. Gen. Al-Tirawi, and the faculty members (academics and military) for their keenness to provide useful knowledge, and develop the student’s skills in the various fields, to be soldiers of the homeland, protectors of the knowledge, and loyal towards independence and freedom”.
It is noteworthy to mention that the number of graduates for the academic year 2020/2021 was (168) male and female students in the undergraduate program, and the top nine were honored as follows, the student Abdullah Hmeidat was the first in the military general ranking, and the student Mashaki was the first academically, and the student Alaa Sarhan in military discipline and liaison, the student Ahmed Sobh in the military infantry, the student Ahmed Rabaya in shooting and weapons, the student Kamel Al-Jaladi in leadership competency, the student Basil Fares in physical fitness, and the students Noura Samar and Sara Samara won the first place in the faculties of humanities and law.