Gaza City: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has disclosed that since the onset of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank on October 7, 2023, 14,784 students have been killed and 24,766 others injured.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Ministry's statement on Tuesday detailed that in Gaza alone, over 14,649 students have perished, with at least 23,936 others injured. In the West Bank, 135 students have lost their lives, and 830 others have sustained injuries. Additionally, 724 students have been detained.
The report further revealed that 880 teachers and administrative staff have been killed, with around 4,247 injured across both regions. The West Bank has seen the detention of 193 educational staff members.
The Ministry highlighted that 352 government schools have suffered severe damage, of which 111 have been completely destroyed. Moreover, 91 government schools and 89 UNRWA schools have been subjected to bombings and vandalism.
Higher education institutions have also been affected, with 20 institutions heavily damaged and 60 university buildings entirely destroyed. In the West Bank, 146 schools and eight universities have faced raids and vandalism, with destruction to school walls in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas.
The Ministry further reported that Israeli authorities have warned of the impending closure of UNRWA schools in Jerusalem on May 8. It emphasized that 788,000 students in Gaza have been unable to attend educational institutions since the aggression began, with many facing psychological trauma and challenging health conditions.
