'Israel' killed 8,570 Palestinian students since October

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Jul 2024 14:47
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A recent report reveals alarming statistics of casualties and damages inflicted on Palestinian students and educational institutions by "Israel"amid its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

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A Palestinian student walks past factories destroyed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Deir al Balah on January 13, 2024. (AP)

"Israel" has been responsible for the killing of more than 8,570 Palestinian students in Gaza since October, while also causing significant destruction to educational facilities, as per Wafa news agency, citing the Palestinian Education Ministry.

Over 100 students in the occupied West Bank were also killed within this timeframe.

The report added that more than 490 teachers and administrators were killed and over 3,400 were injured across Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Numerous educational institutions, including 65 operated by the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), were targeted with bombings and subjected to vandalism, as per the report.

Gaza’s children send heartfelt thanks to American students for protesting against Israel’s genocide. pic.twitter.com/sHrhYSxH1W
— sarah (@sahouraxo) April 28, 2024

It is worth noting that experts have termed the phenomenon "scholasticide".

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Al-Aqsa University, established in 1955 as Gaza's oldest government higher education institution, saw its campuses in Gaza City and Khan Younis severely damaged and destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).

As one of Gaza's largest universities, Al-Aqsa University has been offering bachelor's and postgraduate programs spanning applied sciences, arts, media, sports, finance, and IT.

In January, social media videos depicted the partial collapse of the entrance to the Khan Younis campus. The following month, reports surfaced of shelling at two buildings on the Gaza City campus, with Israeli forces reportedly firing at civilians seeking refuge there.

The Islamic University, the largest university in the Gaza Strip providing educational services to tens of thousands of students..

Rimal neighborhood, the most vital commercial and residential area in the heart of Gaza City

Both reduced to rubble by Israeli airstrikes pic.twitter.com/kX0v2UcWrm
— Maha Hussaini (@MahaGaza) October 10, 2023

Similar destruction has affected the remaining 12 accredited universities in Gaza.

In a related context, the Global Education Cluster highlighted, on June 22, that over 76% of schools in Gaza require immediate reconstruction or substantial rehabilitation to resume functioning, the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees UNRWA posted on X.

lsrael soldiers cheering

as they detonate a SCHOOL in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/EmEgOI26Hc
— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) March 31, 2024

Despite these challenges, UNRWA affirmed its commitment to providing essential learning activities to students, emphasizing the critical importance of education as a fundamental human right.

In its post, UNRWA reiterated its call for a ceasefire, stressing the critical need for stability to facilitate the rebuilding of essential services and infrastructure in Gaza.

'Israel' deliberately reduced Gaza schools, health centers to rubble

In May, a Geneva-based rights group accused "Israel" of deliberately demolishing schools and medical facilities, including those operated by UNRWA, during its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

According to a statement released by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med), Israeli attacks destroyed several schools and a medical clinic in Gaza City's al-Zaytoun neighborhood, forcing numerous families to be forcibly displaced.

In its latest report, the Ministry of Education in #Palestine found that around 620,000 students have been unable to continue their education since "Israel's" war on #Gaza began on October 7, 2023.

The report also explained that 133 public schools have been used as shelters,… pic.twitter.com/4yzbazwF7u
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 4, 2024

Euro-Med condemned "Israel's" militarization of civilian buildings like hospitals and schools, in violation of international law. It called on the international community to pressure "Israel" to halt attacks on schools and safeguard educational institutions in Gaza from further military assaults.

In April, UNRWA said that it uncovered thousands of pounds of explosives inside schools and on roads after Israeli troops pulled out from Khan Younis.