Since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted numerous airstrikes on more than 200 educational facilities, including universities, in the Gaza Strip. The IDF states such airstrikes are the result of the placement of military infrastructure and rocket launching from civilian areas, including schools. By late March 2024, the United Nations recorded more than 200 Israeli attacks on schools in Gaza, with at least 53 schools totally destroyed.[1][2] By July 2024, all 19 Gaza universities had suffered severe damage with 80% of university buildings destroyed, 103 academics killed, and 90,000 students enrolled in higher education no longer able to pursue their studies.[3][4] In June 2024, UNOCHA stated 76 percent of Gaza's schools required "full reconstruction or major rehabilitation", and in August 2024, UNICEF stated 564, or 85 percent, of all schools in Gaza had been hit by Israeli attacks.[5]
Breakdown of deaths by age and gender (analysis by professors Michael Spagat and Daniel Silverman), November 2023[6]
- ^ Marsi, Federica; Siddiqui, Usaid; Motamedi, Maziar (28 March 2024). "How Israel's destruction of Gaza schools shatters children's dreams". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Gaza war: 'Direct hits' on more than 200 schools since Israeli bombing began". UN News. United Nations. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Ibtisam Mahdi, The decimation of Gaza's academia is ‘impossible to quantify’ +972 magazine 26 July 2024.
- ^ Fayoumi, Sondos (26 July 2024). "Every University in Gaza Has Been Destroyed. So Have These Students' Dreams". The Nation. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^
- "Humanitarian Situation Update #179 Gaza Strip". UNOCHA. United Nations. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- "Israel bombs 6th UN-run school in Gaza in 10 days, kills dozens". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- Speakman Cordall, Simon. "Israel keeps bombing Gaza schools. Why do people still shelter there?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- "Israel's intensifying attacks on Gaza schools". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Michael Spagat and Daniel Silverman (1 November 2023). "Is the Hamas-run Ministry of Health data on fatalities in Gaza to be trusted?".