Israel has killed over 16,600 students in Gaza and West Bank

Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the West Bank Since October 7th 2023, has killed at least 16,607 students, with at least 26,271 students sustaining wounds, Middle East Eye via Wafa news agency reported on June 17th.

Data from the Palestinian Ministry of Education reports 16,470 student deaths in Gaza. It also records 25,374 student injuries in the same area. According to the data, in the West Bank 137 students have died, 897 were injured, and 754 were detained.

The ministry also reported that 914 teachers and other administrative staff have died. Furthermore, 4,363 individuals have sustained wounds in the West Bank and Gaza. The report also stated that over 196 teaching staff have been detained in the West Bank.

A total of 352 public schools have sustained severe damage from Israeli attacks. Among them, 111 schools were fully obliterated. UNRWA-run facilities also suffered damage, with 91 public and 89 UNRWA schools vandalised or attacked.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces conducted raids on 152 schools and eight universities. The raids included institutions in Jenin, Tulkarm, Bruqin, and Kafr al-Dik.

On June 11th, Middle East Eye via Reuters reported that Israel’s attacks on Gaza schools and cultural sites amount to war crimes and extermination. As Maghrebi reported, a UN probe revealed Israeli troops damaged or completely destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s schools. The damage occurred through numerous Israeli strikes, shelling, burning, and demolitions.

The destruction has stopped roughly 788,000 children from getting an education for over two years.

On May 26th alone, three missiles struck Fahmi al-Jarjawi School, where refugees were sheltering, as Al Jazeera reported.  Maghrebi reported that the Gaza strike caused 36 deaths in the school, mainly of children and women. In Jabalia, a bombing destroyed a residence. It claimed 16 lives from one household.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education also denounced Israel’s ongoing closure of six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, Wafa News Agency reported on June 17th. These schools have been closed since May 8th 2025. This action blocks Palestinian children’s access to basic education in the city.

Middle East Eye, Wafa, Maghrebi.org, Reuters, Al Jazeera