At least 14 school students and eight education professionals were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip during October, according to the Palestinian Education Ministry.
In a statement released on Monday, the ministry confirmed that the students killed were between six and 16 years old. The education workers included four teachers, three employees of the Islamic University who died during an attack on its premises, and a female university academic killed in a strike targeting a residential apartment.
The ministry also reported injuries among schoolchildren, university students and education staff following attacks on educational facilities and temporary learning centres established in tents.
According to the statement, Israeli shooting in residential areas and around educational institutions forced several schools to suspend or postpone classes. The disruptions affected southern areas of Khan Younis, eastern Deir al-Balah, the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and several locations in the northern part of the territory.
The ministry further warned that restrictions on border crossings and the ongoing blockade have prevented Palestinian students holding overseas scholarships from travelling abroad. Consequently, some students have lost opportunities to continue their higher education.
Educational institutions are also struggling with severe shortages of essential supplies. Restrictions on the entry of construction materials, temporary classroom tents, school furniture and vocational training equipment have complicated efforts to restore damaged facilities. Students with disabilities have also faced shortages of necessary educational resources.
Meanwhile, insufficient fuel supplies have made transportation increasingly difficult for thousands of students and disrupted electricity generators used by schools and universities.
The Education Ministry urged the international community, United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to protect students and teachers, stop attacks on educational institutions and facilitate the delivery of essential supplies.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, approximately 95% of schools across the territory have suffered damage since Israeli military operations began in October 2023.
Education Ministry figures released in July showed that more than 20,051 school-age children and over 532 teachers had been killed between October 2023 and July 2026.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed 1,593 Palestinians and wounded another 5,748.
The ceasefire followed two years of devastating Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths, over 175,000 injuries and the destruction of approximately 90% of the territory’s civilian infrastructure.
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