Israeli war on Gaza leaves 85% schools inoperable

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Education and Higher Education Ministry in Gaza has reported that Israel’s genocidal war spanning over 15 months has left 85% of schools out of service resulting in a two-year interruption in education.

In a statement, Ahmed Al-Najjar, the director-general of the ministry’s Public Relations Unit, said: “The Israeli genocide caused an unparalleled educational catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.”

He highlighted that higher education was also severely impacted, with the Israeli army killing around 1,200 students and 150 academics, as well as destroying 140 educational institutions.

Najjar emphasized that “the deliberate destruction of educational facilities in Gaza has made restoring the educational system an enormous challenge.”

According to the Government Media Office’s statistics, over the 15 months, Israel bombed 1,166 educational establishments, including 927 schools, universities, kindergartens, and learning centers. These institutions were completely destroyed, and the attacks killed a total of 12,800 students and 800 teachers and administrative staff.

Najjar noted that the ministry has devised an “emergency response plan” in collaboration with local and international organizations to find quick solutions.

The plan includes completing the 2023/2024 school year and launching the 2024/2025 year using exceptional measures. This will involve a special exam session for high school students, according to the official.

The plan also includes rehabilitating damaged schools, establishing temporary schools and educational tents, enhancing e-learning and home-schooling to compensate for lost academic time, and providing intensive psychological support programs for both students and teachers.

Najjar called on human rights organizations to “document Israeli crimes against students and educational institutions in Gaza,” urging the international community to “provide urgent support for the reconstruction of schools and educational institutions to ensure that education can resume as soon as possible.”

The Gaza Government Media Office estimates the damage and losses in the education sector due to Israeli actions at over $2 billion.

A ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on January 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed nearly 47,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.