The Reality of Education Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks

The academic year in Gaza resumed on September 19 following nearly three years of disruptions caused by conflict, offering families some hope of restoring normality through makeshift classrooms and tents. However, students and teachers continue to face severe risks from Israeli air raids, tank fire, and sniper attacks near the Yellow Line, an area where control shifted under ceasefire agreements.

In Deir el-Balah on October 17, fourteen-year-old Mohammed Hamad was killed by an Israeli strike while walking home from school with his ten-year-old brother Abdullah. Mohammed was an eighth-grade student and among the top pupils in his class. His loss has left his family and surviving brother in profound grief and fear, with Abdullah now terrified of going to school alone.

Children in Gaza face deadly attacks and constant fear while trying to attend school.

The risks are particularly high near the Yellow Line, where at least 66 Palestinian children have been killed. On October 21, fourth-grade student Suad Abd Rabbo was shot on her way to school. The bullet lodged near her nerves and tendons, and doctors were unable to extract it without risking paralysis. Discharged and unable to walk, Suad requires surgery abroad, but tight exit and entry controls leave her prospects of treatment remote.

Between October 18 and 24, ten children aged six to 16 and a teacher were killed. Incidents included two girls wounded during morning assembly at Muradiya School in Jabalia and five students injured in an attack on the Islamic University campus in Gaza City. The Ministry of Education has called for urgent international action to protect students, schools, and universities across the enclave.

Why it matters

The ongoing violence disrupts the education gaza children desperately rely on, stripping away a sense of normalcy and exposing pupils to mortal danger during their daily commutes. This situation affects vulnerable families and students who are trapped in zones of active military operations without adequate medical care or safe access to learning facilities.