A comprehensive assessment by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) reveals the unprecedented scale of destruction to Gaza's education sector resulting from "Israel's" ongoing aggression on the Strip. The report emerges amid the killing of over 16,800 Palestinian students across Gaza and the West Bank by "Israel" since October 2023.

Based on satellite data collected on July 8, 2025, the report confirms that 97% of Gaza's 564 schools have suffered damage, with over three-quarters designated as "direct hits" requiring total reconstruction.

The above graph illustrates that 76.6% of all school buildings have sustained direct hits, followed by 15.3% that are damaged and smaller proportions that are likely or possibly damaged. Only 1.4% remain unclassified.

The educational crisis has deepened steadily since November 2023, with a sharp escalation in direct hits to schools.

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The line graph above shows the cumulative increase in severely damaged school buildings, particularly those directly hit, which rose from under 100 in late 2023 to over 430 by mid-2025. Meanwhile, damage assessments with less certainty ("likely," "possible," and "unknown") declined over time as clearer data emerged.

Impact by school type

The destruction has affected all categories of educational institutions, but governmental and UNRWA schools bore the brunt of the attacks. The bar graph below shows that governmental schools experienced the highest number of direct hits, followed by UNRWA and private schools. In all categories, direct hits far outweigh other forms of damage.

North Gaza bears the brunt

The level of educational destruction varies across Gaza’s governorates. North Gaza and Rafah have suffered total educational infrastructure loss, with 100% of schools directly hit or damaged. Khan Younis follows at 98.4%, while the Gaza governorate stands at 93.3%. 

Lost years

Research by Cambridge University and UNRWA suggests that, even under ideal conditions of immediate reconstruction, students may lose two years of education. If the war on Gaza persists until 2026, learning losses could extend to five years, bearing in mind that this does not account for trauma or displacement. This comes as Gaza’s children have already missed 14 months of education since 2019 due to COVID-19 and repeated conflicts. 

The scale of reconstruction needed is monumental. An estimated 26 million tons of rubble must be cleared before rebuilding can begin. In addition, basic utilities such as water, electricity, and telecommunications must be restored, and schools cannot be safely reopened until unexploded ordnance is removed from educational sites. Furthermore, more than 200 schools will require complete reconstruction from the ground up.

Gaza’s teaching workforce has also been severely impacted. "Israel" has killed over 410 teachers, another 2,460 were injured, and the few educators still active are operating under extreme conditions through informal and limited initiatives. Replacing lost technical and vocational instructors poses a particular challenge, as entire educational tracks in medicine, engineering, and teacher training have been dismantled due to the destruction.

University system collapse

According to the report, all higher education institutions have been affected, as the IOF have destroyed or damaged every university in the Gaza Strip. 78,000 students are unable to continue their university education, and professional programs requiring specialized faculty and equipment, in medicine, engineering, and teacher training, have been halted.

As part of "Israel's" deliberate targeting of Palestinian intellectuals, the IOF have so far killed 94 university professors, including three university presidents and seven deans. Another 450 university staff were killed as well.

UN experts have raised the alarm over what they term "scholasticide," a systematic effort to destroy Palestinian education. Deliberate attacks on educational facilities, targeted killings of teachers, and the destruction of schools are now recognized globally as attempts to undermine the future of Palestinian society.