SAFA — Israeli occupation forces killed 10 Palestinian students and a teacher in the Gaza Strip between October 18 and 24, according to Gaza's Ministry of Education and Higher Education, as children continue to lose their lives amid repeated Israeli attacks despite the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement issued Sunday, the ministry condemned the continued killing of Palestinian students and education workers, warning that children remain exposed to Israeli military fire while hundreds of thousands have been deprived of regular schooling for nearly three academic years.

The latest deaths underscore the continuing danger facing Gaza's children, many of whom have already endured repeated displacement, the loss of family members, and the destruction of their homes and schools.

Ten Students and a Teacher Killed in Seven Days

The Ministry of Education identified the Palestinian students killed during the week as Misk Hazem al-Dalu, 6; Baraa Mohammad Maarouf, 14; Abdulrahman Awad, 10; Majd Mohammad Hassan, 15; Walid Mohammad Shakshak, 14; Tamer Shadi Subh, 14; Mohammad Riyad Abu Hammad, 14; Rafif Raed Labad, 16; and Mohammad Hossam Shaheen, 12.

The ministry also named teacher Ahmad Zuhair Abu Ouda among those killed.

Another child identified by the ministry was eight-year-old Fatima al-Bayouk, who died after being wounded by Israeli gunfire east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Fatima had reportedly been the sole survivor of her family after an Israeli attack on their home in late 2023 killed her relatives. Having already endured the loss of her family, she was later shot by Israeli forces and succumbed to her wounds, becoming another child killed during the period of the announced ceasefire.

The deaths have renewed attention to the vulnerability of Palestinian children across Gaza, where Israeli attacks continue to endanger civilians in residential areas and near makeshift educational facilities.

Some children have been killed while returning from learning centers established to provide limited educational opportunities, while others have been struck in or near their homes.

For families attempting to restore a sense of normal life after years of war, the continuing violence has made even ordinary childhood activities a source of danger.

700,000 Children Deprived of Regular Schooling

Beyond the immediate loss of life, Gaza's education system remains devastated by Israel's military campaign.

According to the Ministry of Education, approximately 700,000 Palestinian children have been deprived of regular, in-person education for nearly three consecutive academic years.

The ministry reported that around 98% of school buildings across the Gaza Strip have sustained damage, leaving students without adequate classrooms, educational materials, and safe learning environments.

Schools that once served as centers of education and community life have been destroyed, damaged, or repurposed as shelters for displaced families, while repeated displacement has disrupted efforts to resume teaching.

The loss of teachers, students, and educational infrastructure has compounded the long-term consequences of the war, threatening the academic development and psychological well-being of an entire generation.

Children who should be attending classes and preparing for their futures are instead struggling with displacement, hunger, insecurity, and the trauma of losing loved ones.

UNICEF Warns Gaza's Children Remain in Danger

On October 20, UNICEF warned that Palestinian children in Gaza continued to be killed and wounded, highlighting the persistent threats to their lives despite the announced ceasefire.

The agency's warning came amid reports of children being struck by Israeli gunfire and military attacks in different parts of the Strip.

For Gaza's students, the danger extends beyond the destruction of school buildings. The continued threat of violence has undermined attempts to establish temporary learning spaces and restore access to education.

Even where makeshift classrooms have reopened, families face the fear that their children may be harmed while traveling to or from lessons.

Gaza Education Ministry Demands International Protection

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education called on the United Nations, international institutions, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to protect Palestinian children, students, and education workers.

It also demanded accountability for those responsible for attacks on children and educational institutions, urging international legal bodies to pursue justice for the victims.

The ministry stressed that the continued killing of students and destruction of educational infrastructure threaten not only children's immediate safety but also their right to education and their future.

For Palestinian families in Gaza, the deaths of 10 students and a teacher in a single week represent another devastating loss amid an education crisis that has already deprived hundreds of thousands of children of the stability and opportunities of ordinary school life.

As Israeli attacks continue despite the ceasefire, Gaza's children remain caught between the struggle to survive and the increasingly difficult hope of returning safely to their classrooms.

Source : Safa News