Gaza’s Children Face Continuing Dangers on Their Journey to Education

Risks to Students Amid Ongoing Military Activity

Children attending makeshift schools in Gaza face severe dangers as military operations, air raids, and gunfire continue near educational facilities. The resumption of the academic year on September 19 provided families with a brief sense of normalcy following years of conflict, but ongoing violence has placed students and teachers at persistent risk.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed and 5,687 injured in Gaza since a ceasefire was established in October of last year. The Ministry of Education reported that ten children aged six to 16, along with a teacher, were killed between October 18 and 24.

Incidents Near the 'Yellow Line'

Schools located close to the "Yellow Line"—the demarcation dividing territory under Israeli and Palestinian control following the October 2025 ceasefire agreement—report particularly high risks. United Nations data indicates that the line has shifted westward, placing more than 65 percent of Gaza under Israeli control, up from 53 percent previously.

• Deir el-Balah: On October 17, 14-year-old Mohammed Hamad was killed by an Israeli strike while walking home from school through the al-Baraka neighbourhood with his younger brother.
• Jabalia: On October 21, fourth-grade student Suad Abd Rabbo was struck by a bullet above the knee during morning assembly at Muradiya School. Hospital staff reported that the bullet remains lodged near her nerves and tendons, requiring surgery abroad that is currently inaccessible due to tight border controls.
• Muradiya School: A fifth-grade student, Amina Khader, sustained an abdominal injury in the same incident, which school principal Naim Aloush reported caused widespread panic and a subsequent rise in absenteeism.

Impact on Families and Educators

Parents and educators have expressed deep concern over the psychological and physical safety of children returning to class. Teachers report that stray bullets and projectiles from snipers, artillery, and quadcopter drones frequently impact school tents and surrounding areas.

Families face difficult choices between sending children to school to maintain their education or keeping them at home to avoid the dangers of transit through conflict-affected zones. Psychological trauma among surviving students and injured children remains a significant concern for families navigating daily life in the enclave.

*Readers can verify official statements and casualty reports through updates issued by the Gaza Ministry of Health and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).*