GAZA CITY: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said that more than 650,000 children in Gaza remain out of school for the third consecutive year, as relentless conflict and devastation continue to cripple the territory’s education system.
“In Gaza, children are out of school for a third year in a row,” United Nations, Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said in a post on X. “For nearly 660,000 girls and boys, returning to learning is not only about education, it’s about starting to heal from deep trauma.”
UNRWA, the largest humanitarian agency operating in the enclave, said it remains ready to resume schooling whenever conditions permit.
Tamara Alrifai, the agency’s director for external relations, said that “a priority for UNRWA is the education for children and the resumption of learning for children.”
A Generation at Risk
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 97% of Gaza’s school buildings have been partially or completely destroyed, leaving children without access to safe learning spaces.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Anadolu Agency.
The continued devastation has pushed Gaza’s education system to the brink of collapse, with teachers displaced, schools converted into shelters, and children suffering from severe psychological trauma. Aid agencies warn that the long-term loss of education risks creating a “lost generation” in Gaza.
Ceasefire Offers Hope but Uncertain Future
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, reached last week under a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has paused months of bombardment. The plan’s first phase included a prisoner-hostage exchange, while later stages outline rebuilding Gaza and forming a new governing structure without Hamas.
For now, humanitarian organizations say that rebuilding education must be at the heart of Gaza’s recovery. “For these children,” UNRWA said, “going back to school is not just about learning — it’s about reclaiming hope.”
