Education Under Attack in Gaza

Education has long been a cornerstone of pride and a fundamental value for Palestinian families. The work of IAWPA, the Occupied Palestinian Territory Ministry of Education, together with other partners, have played a pivotal role in safeguarding and advancing the right to education for all Palestinians.
The current war in Gaza has severely disrupted the education of all the 625,000 students and impacted the lives and livelihoods of the 22,564 teachers . Between October 2023 and July 2024, almost all school buildings in Gaza have been either entirely or partially destroyed following Israeli military strikes.

The extent of the most recent damage and disruption to Gaza’s education system underscores the urgent need for attention to education in humanitarian frontline planning to restore education now, and to plan for the rebuilding of the education system as soon as there is a permanent ceasefire. It is important to note that the impact on education in Gaza is compounded by 17 years of blockade and recurrent attacks that precede the current war in Gaza. This has compounded the devastating education effects on children, young people, teachers and communities, including as a result of direct hits on school .Therefore, restoring and rebuilding education needs to recognise how the severity of the current scale of destruction of the education system reinforces the compounding effects of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which the International Court of Justice found to be unlawful (International Court of Justice, 2024a).

The report underscores the need for the international community to stand up to its obligations. The education Sustainable Development Goal identifies the right to equitable, inclusive and quality education as a key element of development and reconstruction.
Education is a fundamental right just as much in times of peace as in times of emergencies and war, as set out in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. Protecting and ensuring access to education during conflict is also enshrined in international humanitarian law with provisions on the right to education and education more generally, for example, the protection of students, education staff and educational facilities.

Protecting education from attack is vital to prevent harm to children, young people and teachers.
Lets Join Hands To Protect Education In Gaza