Gaza City: Over 16,000 students have been martyred in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, the toll on young lives has been significant, with 16,382 students killed and 23,532 injured across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Ministry of Education has detailed the dire statistics in a recent statement. In the Gaza Strip alone, more than 16,245 students have lost their lives, and 25,959 have been injured since the onset of the aggression. In the West Bank, the Ministry reported 137 student fatalities, 897 injuries, and 749 detentions of students.
The Ministry further reported that 917 teachers and administrators have been martyred, with 4,347 injured across both regions. Additionally, more than 196 educators have been detained in the West Bank.
The conflict has also inflicted severe damage on educational infrastructure. In the Gaza Strip, 443 government schools, universities, and their affiliated buildings, along with 91 schools affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), have been bombed and vandalised. Sixty university buildings have been completely destroyed, and 20 educational institutions have sustained severe damage. In the West Bank, 152 schools and eight universities have been raided and vandalised.