This picture taken on May 7, 2024 shows a view of the damaged building of a preparatory school for boys run by the UNRWA at the Shati camp for Palestinian refugees, west of Gaza City. (Photo by AFP)
Doha, Qatar: The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation strongly condemns the relentless bombing of schools in Gaza, which have destroyed the safety of thousands of children and civilians.
The latest attack by Israel on a girls’ school in Deir al-Balah which killed at least 30 people including several children comes after a series of attacks on UNRWA’s al-Razi and al-Oraiban schools in Nuseirat, which killed around 70 people and injured more than 150 others.
The Israeli bombing of schools and civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been systematic and targeted, killing a total of 39,145, with 90,257 injured, over 70,000 housing units destroyed, approximately 1.9 million displaced and has left 625,000 students without access to education. 88% of all school buildings (497 out of 563) sustained severe damage, 54% of which were directly hit.
The continuous targeting of educational facilities represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law. These actions not only threaten the lives of children in Gaza who are disproportionately affected by this conflict, but also infringe upon their fundamental right to education.
In June 2024, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, added the Israeli armed forces to the list of perpetrators who committed grave violations against children in armed conflict, after he found Israel responsible for 5,698 grave violations against Palestinian children, with another 19,887 alleged violations yet to be verified.
The EAA Foundation mourns the devastating impacts on Gaza's community and the severe disruptions to children's education, reiterating its commitment to advocating for the rights and protection of children in conflict zones globally.
As the world prepares to commemorate the International Day to Protect Education from Attack on September 9, EAA reaffirms its commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration and the principles of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2601, emphasizing the importance of education for peace and security worldwide.
Education, a cornerstone of development and peace, must not be compromised even in times of conflict. We urgently call upon the international community to intensify efforts to safeguard children and protect schools as part of States’ obligations under international law.
