Three years of genocide: How Israel destroyed education in Gaza

More than 20,000 students have been killed since October 2023 Nearly 98% of Gaza’s school buildings have been damaged, according to UNICEF 700,000 children have missed nearly three years of formal, in-person schooling Even in war, education remains a fundamental right for every child. Yet three years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, thousands of school-age children have been killed along with hundreds of education workers, while tens of thousands more have been deprived of regular schooling. Despite a partial resumption of learning for the academic year that began Sept. 19, approximately 200,000 children in Gaza remained without access to structured education, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The scale of the devastation is also evident in the destruction of Gaza’s schools: 98% of school buildings have sustained damage, according to UNICEF. More than 93% require major rehabilitation or full reconstruction, while approximately 81% were directly hit, it said. According to figures from Gaza’s media office, 165 educational institutions were completely destroyed, while 392 were damaged as of April. An August assessment by Save the Children found that 86% of kindergartens it surveyed had been destroyed, damaged or were inaccessible because they were located behind the Israeli military-controlled “yellow line.” The destruction and disruption have kept hundreds of thousands of children out of classrooms. Some 700,000 children aged 4-17 missed formal, in-person schooling for almost three consecutive academic years, UNICEF reported. By September, approximately 495,000 preschool and school-aged children were enrolled in UN- and partner-supported learning spaces. Another 70,000 reportedly attended community-led and private spaces. Even with those efforts, 200,000 children still lacked access to any structured learning, according to the UN. ​​​​​​​Deaths and injuries More than 20,000 students have been killed since October 2023, according to a Gaza Government Media Office report. To put that toll in perspective, attending one funeral every day for 20,000 deaths would take nearly 55 years. Palestinian Education Ministry figures recorded 1,379 university students killed and 3,017 wounded. In the same period, 830 teachers and 194 university professors and academics were killed, the report further said. The ministry’s broader June tally recorded 802 school staff killed and 3,291 injured, alongside 246 university staff killed and more than 1,493 injured. Destruction of schools and universities A UNESCO-backed assessment published in November 2025 examined 21 higher education institutions across 38 campuses. 22 campuses were completely destroyed and 14 damaged, affecting 95% of campuses assessed. 195 of 206 buildings assessed were destroyed or severely damaged and non-operational. 620 specialised laboratories and facilities were destroyed or severely damaged and unable to operate. Infrastructure damage was estimated at $373.25 million. School buildings continue to house displaced families, limiting the space available for teaching. OCHA documented two UN schools serving as shelters in Al Bureij in September. Financial losses and recovery challenges Preliminary estimates attributed to Gaza’s Government Media Office put direct education sector losses at approximately $4 billion. The Education Cluster had received only 13% of the $170.8 million requested under the 2026 occupied Palestinian territory Flash Appeal, OCHA reported in September. The appeal covers Gaza and the West Bank. Teacher shortages, disrupted pay, insufficient classrooms and supplies, rubble and explosive hazards continue to hinder learning. UNICEF warns that prolonged disruption is eroding literacy and numeracy skills, while trauma and economic pressure increase the risks of permanent dropout, child labour and early marriage. Almost all of Gaza’s 1.2 million children need mental health and psychosocial support, according to the agency. Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others, while around 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been destroyed.