OIC Media Observatory Highlights Israel's Impact On Education In Palestinian Territories

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) media observatory has highlighted the severe impact of ongoing military aggression on education in the Gaza Strip. For the second year, students in schools and universities face educational deprivation due to widespread destruction. Many educational institutions have been repurposed as shelters for displaced individuals, exacerbating the crisis.

According to the observatory's report, 360,000 school students in Gaza are unable to attend classes due to the conflict. This includes 88,000 university students who have been denied education for two consecutive years. The report also reveals that 10,558 school students have lost their lives, with 79 of these casualties occurring in the occupied West Bank.

The report further details that Israeli forces have completely destroyed 62 public schools and caused significant damage to 124 others. Additionally, 126 government schools and 65 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) schools have been bombed. In higher education, 35 university buildings have been entirely demolished, while another 20 have suffered partial destruction.

In terms of personnel losses, Israeli occupation forces have killed 425 Palestinians working in schools and 117 university staff members in Gaza. The number of injured students in Gaza has reached a staggering figure of 34,015 over the past year. In the West Bank, similar aggression has resulted in vandalism at 72 schools and invasions at five universities.

The report highlights ongoing attacks by Israeli forces and settlers on Palestinian students. These attacks include blocking roads leading to schools in various towns and villages, further hindering access to education. Such actions continue to pose significant risks to student safety and educational continuity.

In addition to infrastructure damage, the report notes that Israeli forces have restricted access to university campuses in the West Bank by storming them and tampering with their contents. This interference disrupts academic activities and contributes to an environment of fear among students and staff.

The observatory's findings underscore the dire situation faced by Palestinian students and educators amid ongoing conflict. The loss of life among university students is also alarming, with 667 reported deaths in Gaza and 35 in the West Bank due to military actions.

This comprehensive report from the OIC media observatory sheds light on the devastating effects of military aggression on education within Palestinian territories. It calls attention to the urgent need for international intervention to protect educational rights and ensure safe learning environments for all students.

With inputs from SPA