'Israel' killed 16,800+ students in Gaza, West Bank since Oct. 2023

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 00:33

The Palestinian Education Ministry reports over 16,800 student deaths and massive destruction of schools and universities in Gaza and the West Bank since October 2023.

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Students walk out of UNRWA Girls School run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Shuafat Refugee Camp in east al-Quds, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)

Israeli occupation forces have killed 16,802 Palestinian students and injured more than 26,000 across the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since the beginning of "Israel’s" war in October 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education.

The Ministry reported that 15,553 pre-university students were killed and 23,411 were injured in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, 103 students were killed, 691 were injured, and 361 were detained.

At the university level, 1,111 students were killed and 2,317 injured in Gaza, with many more detained. In the West Bank, "Israel" killed 35 university students, injured over 219, and detained 399.

Education staff among casualties

The toll extended to education personnel. In Gaza, 701 pre-university staff were killed and 3,015 were injured. In the West Bank, four staff members were killed, 21 were injured, and 182 were detained.

Gaza universities also saw 221 staff members killed and 1,416 injured, while 17 were detained in the West Bank. Altogether, 926 education staff were killed and 4,452 were injured.

Gaza students miss high school exams for second consecutive year

The Ministry also noted that students in the Gaza Strip were unable to sit for their high school exams, which began on June 21 in the West Bank, including in al-Quds.

This marks the second year in a row that Gaza’s students have missed these critical exams due to the war.

Massive damage to Gaza’s educational infrastructure

The Ministry’s statement highlighted widespread destruction of educational institutions in Gaza. More than 118 public schools were completely destroyed, 252 were severely damaged, and 91 were directly bombed. Over 60 university buildings were also demolished. Additionally, 93 UNRWA schools were bombed.

West Bank too...

In the West Bank, Israeli forces damaged 152 schools and raided eight universities. These incidents were part of a broader pattern of military operations targeting Palestinian educational infrastructure.