Gaza: The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education has reported a devastating toll on students and educational institutions since the onset of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in October 2023.
According to Union of OIC News Agencies, the ministry confirmed that 16,802 students have been martyred and 26,638 injured during the ongoing conflict. The impact has been particularly severe in the Gaza Strip, where more than 16,664 students have lost their lives and 25,728 have been injured. In the West Bank, 138 students have been killed, 910 have been injured, and 760 have been arrested.
Additionally, educational staff have also suffered significant casualties, with 926 teachers and administrators martyred and 4,452 injured in both regions. The West Bank has seen the arrest of over 199 educational staff members. The aggression has also led to the destruction of 111 schools and 60 university buildings.
The ministry highlighted the ongoing closure of six schools affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Jerusalem and its suburbs, a situation that has persisted since May 6, further exacerbating the educational crisis.
