UUFSD PALESTINE/ISRAEL JUSTICE GROUP (PIJG) FACTS

ISRAELI OCCUPATION SEVERELY RESTRICTS PALESTINIAN EDUCATION

The Israeli occupation severely restricts Palestinian education through infrastructure destruction, military raids, and movement restrictions. In Gaza, over 90% of schools are damaged or destroyed, affecting over 625,000 students and killing thousands. In the West Bank, settler violence, school demolitions, and checkpoints disrupt learning for tens of thousands, violating educational rights.

Key Impacts on the Palestinian Educational System:

Scholasticide in Gaza: As of August 2024, nearly all education facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, including all 12 universities. Over 10,000 students and hundreds of teachers have been killed since October 2023.

Destruction of Infrastructure: Over 80 schools in the West Bank and East Jerusalem face demolition threats, with many already destroyed, frequently targeting Palestinian Bedouin communities.

Movement Restrictions (West Bank): Checkpoints, military roadblocks, and the separation wall restrict access to schools for teachers and students, often resulting in long, dangerous journeys or missed school days.

Educational Interruptions & Trauma: Constant military activity and settler attacks create a dangerous environment, resulting in high levels of trauma, fear, and insecurity among students and staff.

Restriction of Higher Education: Israel has long prevented students in Gaza from traveling to the West Bank for university education

The accumulation of these factors, including the destruction of educational materials and the repurposing of schools as shelters, has created a severe, ongoing crisis for the entire Palestinian educational system, causing many students to lose years of schooling.