Palestinian Education Under Attack in Gaza: Restoration, Recovery, Rights and Responsibilities in and through Education
Education remains a cornerstone of pride for Palestinian families, with UNRWA, the Occupied Palestinian Territory Ministry of Education, and other partners playing a key role. Since October 2023, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports figures from the Occupied Palestinian Territory Ministry of Health identifying that the current war in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, including 10,627 children and 411 teachers, and have injured 15,394 students and 2,411 teachers. The war has devastated the education system in Gaza, disrupting the learning of 625,000 students. According to data from the Occupied Palestinian Territory Education Cluster, between October 2023 and July 2024, almost all school buildings in Gaza have been either entirely or partially destroyed following Israeli military strikes attacks. The extent of this damage underscores the urgent need for humanitarian frontline planning to restore education now, and for rebuilding the education system in Gaza as soon as there is a permanent ceasefire.
The impact of the current war in Gaza is compounded by over 76 years of Israel’s occupation, which the International Court of Justice advisory opinion found to be unlawful, along with 17 years of blockade and recurrent attacks.Thus, a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation is required urgently to ensure Palestinian children and young people can realise their right to equitable and quality education. More immediately, teachers, students, and communities need support now.
This report presents evidence-based analyses of the immediate and enduring effects of educational disruption, drawing from existing data and interviews with children, young people, teachers, counsellors and experienced officials on the ground. It offers a series of recommendations for all actors, including UN agencies, international community and donors and the Occupied Palestinian Territory authorities, to support efforts at resuming equitable and quality teaching and learning in Gaza