Israel Attacks 64 Schools in October

In October alone, 64 attacks were verified on the ground, mostly in the north; 95 per cent of all schools in the Gaza Strip have sustained damage over the past year

At least 64 attacks against schools – almost two every day – were registered in the Gaza Strip last October, according to the latest data from UNICEF and partners.

An estimated 128 people were reportedly killed in the strikes, many of them children.

The attacks on schools in October – which largely serve as shelters for displaced children and families – bring the overall number to 226 such attacks since the start of the conflict last year. In total, over one million children have been displaced in the last 14 months.

Horrors

“Schools should never be on the frontlines of war, and children should never be indiscriminately attacked while seeking shelter,” says UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. “The horrors we are seeing in Gaza are setting a dark precedent for humanity, one where children are hit with bombs at record numbers while looking for safety inside classrooms. Trauma and loss have become their daily norm.”

According to the latest estimates, nearly half of the attacks recorded in October – or 25 – happened in northern Gaza, where renewed intense bombardments, mass displacement, and lack of sufficient aid are pushing children to the brink. In addition to shelter, some of the schools also provide malnutrition treatment points for those in need.

Under International Humanitarian Law, schools are protected spaces. Yet, since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, more than 95 per cent of schools in Gaza have been partially or completely destroyed. At least 87 per cent will require significant reconstruction before they can function again.

Meanwhile, at least 658,000 school-aged children in Gaza have been disconnected from all formal learning activities, casting a shadow of uncertainty on their future; their lives overwhelmed by mental health distress, as well as increased risk of child labour and child marriage.

Attacks against schools, whether they are serving as places of education or shelter for the displaced, are a grave violation against children. UNICEF reiterates its call to all parties to end grave violations against children, and to end attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with international law. UNICEF also reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of all children and civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

“Every day this violence continues, more lives are shattered, and more futures are lost,” said Russell. “Parties to the conflict must respect International Humanitarian Law and safeguard schools and civilian spaces. Children must be shielded from harm, and their right to education must be upheld, even amidst conflict.”

UNICEF via Reliefweb

CrossFireArabia

CrossFireArabia

Dr. Marwan Asmar holds a PhD from Leeds University and is a freelance writer specializing on the Middle East. He has worked as a journalist since the early 1990s in Jordan and the Gulf countries, and been widely published, including at Albawaba, Gulf News, Al Ghad, World Press Review and others.

Related Posts

With 100 Missiles Into Israel Hezbollah Gains Upper Hand

The Lebanese group Hezbollah launched approximately 100 rockets toward Haifa and the Krayot region in northern Israel, Israeli media reported. Israeli reports indicate that this was the heaviest barrage of…

Arab World Condemn But Smotrich Not Listening!

A call by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to annex the occupied West Bank has drawn a wave of condemnations across the Arab world. On Monday, Smotrich said he…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

With 100 Missiles Into Israel Hezbollah Gains Upper Hand

With 100 Missiles Into Israel Hezbollah Gains Upper Hand

Arab World Condemn But Smotrich Not Listening!

Arab World Condemn But Smotrich Not Listening!

Biggest Lie!

Biggest Lie!

Gaza Destroyed

Gaza Destroyed

Her Last Message…

Her Last Message…

Cold-bloodied Murders

Cold-bloodied Murders