A newly released report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry into the Occupied Palestinian Territory has issued a stark condemnation of "Israel" for what it describes as a calculated and extensive campaign of destruction targeting Palestinians in Gaza, one amounting to "war crimes" and potentially "genocide".

The commission, led by Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, outlines how "Israel" has deliberately decimated Gaza’s educational infrastructure, with over 90% of schools and universities reportedly destroyed. According to the body, this destruction is part of a systematic effort to erase the cultural, educational, and religious fabric of Palestinian life.

“This is a campaign of destruction aimed at erasing Palestinian identity,” said Pillay. “By targeting the educational, cultural, and religious life of the Palestinian people, Israel is inflicting generational harm that strikes at the heart of their right to self-determination.”

The report details how the Israeli military has used airstrikes, artillery shelling, arson, and targeted demolitions to destroy learning institutions across the Strip. More than 658,000 children in Gaza have been left without access to education for nearly two years, a humanitarian crisis that the commission states constitutes crimes against humanity in Gaza.

In case anyone thought that destroying schools was collateral damage, let me make it clear, it’s NOT. Schools are targeted.

Israeli soldier filming himself in an elementary school smashing certificates honouring talented students in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/FPmFqmZHsu

— Abier (@abierkhatib) May 23, 2024

Wider pattern of cultural, civilian targeting

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Furthermore, the UN notes the military appropriation of educational facilities, including the partial conversion of Al-Azhar University in Al-Mughraqa into a synagogue for invading Israeli units. The body also cited documented incidents of soldiers filming themselves mocking students before destroying campuses, evidence it says supports allegations of genocidal intent.

Beyond the destruction of schools, the UN Commission highlights the deliberate targeting of Palestinians sheltering in schools, mosques, and religious centers. These acts, according to the report, are “deliberate and systematic” and part of an effort to eliminate not just infrastructure, but the collective identity and future of the Palestinian people as well.

West Bank, a target too

The devastation extends beyond Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, including the eastern part of occupied al-Quds, the report finds that over 900,000 Palestinian students face constant harassment, delays at checkpoints, and violence from illegal settlers. These conditions severely impede access to education and daily life, further deepening what the commission describes as a policy of repression and displacement.

The UN Commission calls on "Israel" to immediately cease its attacks on educational, cultural, and religious institutions and to withdraw from all illegally appropriated sites. The findings also reinforce demands for "Israel" to comply with the provisional measures mandated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This comes against the backdrop of escalating bloodshed across the region, with "Israel’s" genocide on Gaza entering its 21st month. The relentless bombardment, mass displacement, and starvation tactics used against Palestinians have drawn global condemnation of "Israel".

Meanwhile, Israeli aggressions have widened to include near-daily strikes on Lebanon and airstrikes on Yemen. 

Read more: 'Israel' defies law, approves 22 illegal West Bank settlements