The relentless Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has exacted a devastating toll on Palestinian children and the education sector. Since October 7, 2023, over 17,000 children have been killed, the majority of whom were school-aged. This grim statistic underscores the profound humanitarian crisis engulfing the region.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education reports that more than 12,799 students have been killed and 20,942 injured since the onset of the aggression. The destruction extends to educational infrastructure, with 341 government schools and universities, along with 65 facilities affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, bombed and vandalised in the Gaza Strip. Of these, 138 institutions suffered severe damage, and 77 were completely destroyed.

The conflict has deprived approximately 788,000 students in Gaza of their right to education, leaving them to grapple with psychological trauma and deteriorating health conditions. The Ministry has called upon international organisations to intervene urgently to halt the escalating violations against Palestinian children and to protect their fundamental right to education.

The ongoing assault has not only shattered lives but also obliterated the educational aspirations of an entire generation, casting a long shadow over the future of Palestinian society.