Source: afrikmag

Stephen Hawking is a fighter for scientists, and scientists in Palestine are definitely on his list. 

In a recent Facebook post, the legendary British theoretical physicist asked his followers to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign aimed to bring back a second edition of the Palestinian Advanced Physics School, a physics lecture series for masters students in the West Bank. 

"I would like to bring up a fundraising project aimed at raising funds to make a second Palestinian Advanced Physics School possible. Please consider making a donation today to support science in Palestine," Hawking wrote. 

"Scientists for Palestine" - an organization created to promote science in the country - initially sought $7,500 in funds to make the 2017 lecture series happen. 

The campaign has successfully raised 146% of its initial crowdfunding goal. 

"I support the rights of scientists everywhere to freedom of movement, publication and collaboration," he added.

This wouldn't be the first time Hawking supports physicists in Palestine. In 2016, he backed the first ever Palestinian Advanced Physics School.

Organized by Scientists for Palestine, the first ever Palestinian Advanced Physics School was founded in 2016. 

At the time, Hawking gave a video greeting during the session - where British, American and Jordanian scientists discussed contemporary physics. 

"I was pleased to send a greeting to the Palestinian Master students attending the first Palestinian Advanced Physics School last year," Hawking wrote. 

And now, he's done it again! 

Hawking's history with Palestine

Hawking has been quite vocal on his political views when it comes to the Palestinian struggle. 

In 2013, the physicist boycotted the Israel Presidential Conference -- a decision that protested the state's occupation of Palestine and deemed to be a huge step forward for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. 

Hawking initially accepted the invitation to the conference "with the intention that this would not only allow me to express my opinion on the prospects for a peace settlement," but also grant him the opportunity to lecture in the West Bank. 

After several emails from Palestinian academics, Hawking decided to withdraw his acceptance and boycott the conference altogether. 

"Had I attended, I would have stated my opinion that the policy of the present Israeli government is likely to lead to disaster," Hawking said, according to The Guardian