Gaza’s Education System in Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict

Recent escalations in the Israel-Gaza conflict include significant missile exchanges between Israel and Iranian-aligned forces. Iran launched missiles toward Israel, and the U.S. Navy intercepted them using Jordanian airspace.

The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict has severely affected the education sector, particularly in Gaza, causing profound disruptions. Schools, universities, and educational infrastructure have been extensively damaged or destroyed, with over 90% of schools impacted. Many are beyond repair, and students face a loss of up to five years of education, exacerbating the pre-existing learning gap (Arab Center Washington DC, University of Cambridge).

The conflict has also led to the deaths of thousands of students and teachers. More than 5,200 students and over 400 teachers have been killed, while thousands more have been injured. This has severely strained Gaza’s educational system, with students displaced into shelters where education is provided under challenging conditions (Arab Center Washington DC, University of Cambridge).

In addition to physical damage, the psychological toll on both students and educators is immense. Children face trauma, displacement, and a growing sense of hopelessness, with many questioning fundamental values like equality and human rights. The emotional and psychological challenges further compound the learning losses (University of Cambridge).

Efforts to rebuild and restore education are hindered by ongoing violence and limited international aid directed toward education, which has been deprioritized in favor of more immediate humanitarian needs (Arab Center Washington DC, University of Cambridge).

The conflict risks creating a “lost generation” of Palestinian youth, as education remains under constant threat, affecting many education sectors aligned with it.