14 students, 8 education workers killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in October

At least 14 school students and eight education workers were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip in October, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement published late Monday that the slain students were aged between 6 and 16. Among education workers killed by Israeli fire were four teachers, three employees of the Islamic University who died in an attack on the university grounds, and a female academic killed in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment.

The ministry also documented injuries among children, school and university students and education workers in attacks targeting schools and makeshift educational tents last month. “Israeli gunfire toward residential neighborhoods and educational facilities also caused classes to be suspended or delayed at several schools,” it said. The disruptions affected several areas in southern Khan Younis, eastern Deir al-Balah, the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and parts of the northern Gaza Strip.

“The continued closure of crossings and Israeli blockade has prevented Palestinian students who receive scholarships abroad from traveling, causing some to lose opportunities to continue their studies,” the ministry said. “Restrictions have also prevented the entry of essential supplies needed by schools and educational institutions, including construction materials to repair damaged facilities, tents for temporary classrooms, school furniture and equipment for vocational education and students with disabilities,” it said.

The ministry said fuel shortages have hampered the ability of thousands of students to reach schools and universities and disrupted electricity generators used by educational institutions. The ministry called on the international community, UN agencies and humanitarian and rights organizations to intervene to protect students and teachers, halt attacks on educational institutions and ensure the entry of supplies needed to prevent the collapse of Gaza’s education system.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, 95% of schools in the enclave have sustained damage from Israeli attacks since October 2023. More than 20,051 school-age students and over 532 teachers have been killed between October 2023 and July 2026, figures released by the Education Ministry showed in July. Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed 1,593 Palestinians and injured 5,748 others. ​​​​​​​The ceasefire followed two years of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, injured over 175,000 others and destroyed around 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure.