Thousands of Gaza Students, Schools Suffer Amid Ongoing Israeli War

Ramallah: The Palestinian Ministry of Education has reported a toll on students and educational infrastructure since the commencement of the Israeli war on besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank on October 7. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ministry revealed that 4,551 students have lost their lives, while 8,193 others have sustained injuries in the ongoing hostilities. The West Bank saw 41 students killed, with 282 injured and an additional 85 arrested. In the Gaza Strip, 231 teachers and administrators lost their lives, and 756 others were injured. Six individuals were injured, and more than 71 were arrested in the West Bank. Furthermore, a total of 281 government schools and 65 schools affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip were subjected to bombings and vandalism. This resulted in 83 schools suffering severe damage and 7 being completely destroyed. Additionally, 38 schools in the West Bank were stormed and vandalized. The Ministry cl arified that the Israeli targeting of schools has affected 90 percent of government school and education buildings, which experienced both direct and indirect damage. Moreover, 29 percent of school buildings were rendered inoperable due to total demolition or severe damage, in addition to 133 government schools in the Gaza Strip being repurposed as shelter centers. It added that 55 schools in the West Bank are conducting online classes due to their location in areas of heightened tension with the occupation army and colonizers. Source: Jordan News Agency