Massive Impact of Israeli Aggression on Gaza’s Education Sector: Thousands of Children Affected
Over 15,000 School-Age Children Killed or Missing, 95% of Educational Facilities Damaged, and Billions in Losses.
Watan-The Ministry of Education in the Gaza Strip stated that the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in the death and disappearance of more than 15,000 Palestinian children of school age, targeting 95% of school and educational buildings, in addition to subjecting children to “traumatic experiences and unprecedented psychological pressures.”
In a statement, the ministry indicated that preliminary statistics reveal the death and disappearance of more than 800 education sector workers and the injury of 50,000 students.
The statement added that “the massive number of martyrs amounts to a genocide of human resources, including students and workers in more than 30 schools, reflecting the scale of crimes committed against children and educational staff.”
It explained that the genocide carried out by Israel over more than 15 months resulted in the killing of 1,200 students enrolled in higher education institutions, over 150 scientists, academics, and workers in these institutions, and hundreds more injured or left with various disabilities.
The ministry confirmed that 95% of school and educational buildings sustained direct damage, with 85% rendered fully or partially out of service due to destruction.
It pointed out that the Israeli army destroyed more than 140 administrative and academic facilities, including their equipment, devices, laboratories, clinics, and libraries.
The ministry estimated the losses in the education sector to exceed $3 billion.
It also highlighted that thousands of children have been exposed to traumatic experiences and unprecedented psychological pressures, leading to psychological symptoms and trauma requiring specialized interventions.
The ministry announced the completion of emergency response plans for the coming stage, which include completing the 2023-2024 academic year and preparing for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The ministry called on media outlets and human rights organizations to document the “Israeli crimes” against children and their deprivation of the right to education and to pursue Tel Aviv before international bodies and courts.
