GAZA UNDER FIRE: Schools Targeted in Israeli Bombardment
GAZA — The relentless Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel, have left a devastating trail of destruction on the enclave’s educational facilities. According to analysis by UN partners, a staggering 212 schools have been directly hit by the bombardment.
Satellite imagery has revealed that at least 53 schools have been completely destroyed since the conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. There has been a notable nine percent increase in attacks on school premises since mid-February, as reported by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and NGOs Education Cluster and Save The Children.
The escalation in attacks on school facilities has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with intense Israeli bombardment from air, land, and sea across the region. Of the 563 school buildings in Gaza, 165 of the 212 directly hit schools are located in areas designated for evacuation by the Israeli military.
Additionally, more than half of the school premises run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, have also been impacted by the airstrikes. UNRWA reported that no education has been able to take place in Gaza for nearly six months, affecting over 625,000 students and 22,000 teachers.
Further analysis revealed evidence of military use of schools by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) since the beginning of the escalation. Reports, pictures, and videos showed schools being used for military operations, including detention centers and military bases.
With over 320 school buildings being used as shelters for displaced people since October, the report highlighted the urgent need for reconstruction or rehabilitation of 67 percent of schools in Gaza once the conflict subsides. The impact of the bombardment on education in Gaza is profound and long-lasting. — UN News
