Since the onset of Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinian education sector has faced devastating losses. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, over 16,382 students have been killed and 25,959 injured, with the vast majority of casualties occurring in Gaza. In the West Bank alone, 137 students were killed, 897 injured, and 749 detained. In addition, 917 teachers and school administrators were killed, 4,347 injured, and 196 detained, revealing the toll not only on learners but also on the educational workforce.
Educational infrastructure has been systematically targeted. In Gaza, 443 government schools, universities, and related buildings have been damaged or destroyed, alongside 91 UNRWA schools. Furthermore, 60 university buildings were completely levelled, and 20 educational institutions severely damaged. In the West Bank, 152 schools and eight universities were raided and vandalised. Six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem have remained closed since May 8.
These attacks have caused a near-total collapse of the education system in Gaza. Thousands of children and youth are now without access to schools or learning resources. The psychological trauma of war, displacement, and loss of loved ones adds to the barriers students face, while continued bombardment hinders any efforts to resume formal education. Many young Palestinians, once aspiring doctors, engineers, and teachers, now live in survival mode, with their futures abruptly stolen.
The broader human cost is equally harrowing. Total Palestinian casualties now exceed 54,927 killed and 126,615 injured, with many bodies still under rubble.
A coordinated international effort is urgently needed to bring about a lasting ceasefire, without which the cycle of destruction will continue to rob generations of Palestinian children of their right to learn. The global community must exert diplomatic pressure, support ceasefire negotiations, and work collectively through the United Nations and regional bodies to uphold international law and humanitarian standards. Only through a united front can the violence be halted and conditions made safe for students to return to school.
Rebuilding Gaza’s education system will be a herculean task. Massive investment will be required to reconstruct schools, retrain educators, provide psychosocial support, and ensure students have access to quality learning environments. Without urgent action, the educational dreams of an entire generation risk being permanently extinguished.
