Over 14,000 Palestinian students perished, and nearly 25,000 more were injured in the conflict dating back to October 2023.
In the grim aftermath of the Israeli conflict that erupted in the Gaza Strip and West Bank on October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education revealed a chilling toll: 14,784 students slain, 24,766 wounded, and 724 students detained by Israeli forces. The majority of these casualties occurred in Gaza, with an astounding 14,649 students killed and 23,936 wounded. To add insult to injury, a staggering 880 teachers and administrators also lost their lives, with 23,936 wounded, primarily in Gaza.
The devastation didn't end there. A brutal 111 schools were obliterated by Israeli forces, with 352 public schools severely damaged. The destructive force didn't spare UNRWA schools either, with 91 public schools and 89 UNRWA schools bombed and left in ruins. Higher education institutions suffered too, with 20 facing severe damage, and 60 university buildings completely annihilated. The conflict also left a dark mark on schools in the West Bank, with numerous institutions attacked and vandalized.
Over 788,000 students in Gaza have been unable to attend schools and universities due to the conflict, struggling with psychological trauma and health issues. Unfortunately, advisory opinions seem to be an ineffective tool in halting this genocide.
Here's a quick rundown of the chaos:- Student casualties: 14,784 dead, 24,766 wounded- Teacher casualties: 880 killed, 23,936 wounded- School damages: 111 schools destroyed, 352 public schools severely damaged- Enrollment and access: ~660,000 children out of school due to the war
The educational system in the Gaza Strip and West Bank faces a monumental crisis, with widespread destruction, displacement, education disruptions, emergency learning measures, and humanitarian suffering.
- The United Nations has issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, expressing its deep concern over the high number of students wounded and killed.
- The Gaza Ministry of Education and Higher Education has reported that over 14,000 students were killed and 24,000 were wounded during the conflict.
- Israeli forces have been accused of vandalising schools and universities in Gaza, disrupting the education of over 788,000 students.
- In addition to student casualties, 880 teachers and administrators were killed and 23,936 were wounded during the conflict, according to the ministry.
- A report published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes that 111 schools were destroyed, 352 public schools severely damaged, and numerous institutions in the West Bank were attacked and vandalized.
- The UNRWA schools in Gaza were not spared from the destruction, with 91 public schools and 89 UNRWA schools bombed and left in ruins.
- The conflict has also caused a significant number of humanitarian issues in the region, with students struggling with psychological trauma and health issues.
- The political fallout from the war and conflicts in the region has been extensively covered in the general news, with advisory opinions proving to be an ineffective tool in halting the violence.
- The crisis in the educational system in the Gaza Strip and West Bank has been further highlighted in the crime and justice sector, with 724 students detained by Israeli forces during the conflict.
- The war-and-conflicts section of the news has reported on the devastating effects of the war on the people of Gaza and the West Bank, with Education Minister in Gaza issuing a statement regarding the losses and challenges faced by the education sector.
- The future of education in the region remains uncertain, with the rebuilding and restoration of schools, universities, and the educational system being critical to ensuring access to education for all students and the reduction of the humanitarian crisis.
