On Tuesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Education reported that 11,923 students have been killed, and 19,199 others injured in Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the Israeli conflict on October 7, 2023.
In Gaza alone, over 11,808 students lost their lives, with 18,596 injured. In the occupied West Bank, 115 students were reported killed, 603 injured, and approximately 450 detained. The Palestinian Ministry of Education shared this information through a statement cited by WAFA, the Palestinian News Agency.
Impact on Teachers and Educational Institutions
According to the ministry’s statement, the ongoing conflict has had devastating impacts on educators as well. In Gaza and the West Bank, 561 teachers and administrators have been killed, 3,729 injured, and more than 148 arrested in the West Bank alone. The conflict has also damaged 341 government schools, universities, and administrative buildings, along with 65 UNRWA schools in Gaza. Of these, 138 schools sustained heavy damage, and 77 were entirely destroyed. In the West Bank, 84 schools and seven universities faced invasions and vandalism.
Educational and Psychological Crisis
The Ministry highlighted that over 788,000 students in Gaza remain unable to attend school due to the ongoing violence. Many students face severe psychological trauma and dire health conditions. Frequent military raids on West Bank areas, especially in Jenin and Tulkarem, have also traumatized students, disrupting their daily routines and learning environments.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education calls for urgent international intervention to ensure the safety and psychological well-being of students, teachers, and educational staff in Gaza and the West Bank.
