Gaza Schools Remain Shuttered Amidst Ongoing Conflict

The school year in the Palestinian territories began with all schools in Gaza closed due to ongoing conflict with Israel. Residents face new evacuation orders and the UNRWA has turned many schools into shelters for displaced families. The conflict has led to significant challenges in education and safety for children.

The new school year in the Palestinian territories began on Monday, with all schools in Gaza closed after 11 months of war and no sign of a ceasefire.

In the ongoing assault on the Palestinian territory, Israel issued new orders for residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes, responding to rockets fired into Israel. Umm Zaki's son Moataz, 15, was to start tenth grade but instead woke up in a tent and was sent to fetch water from over a kilometer away.

"Usually, this would be a day of celebration, with children in new uniforms dreaming of becoming doctors and engineers. Today we just hope the war ends before we lose any of them," the mother of five told Reuters. The Palestinian Education Ministry said all Gaza schools were shut and 90% were either destroyed or damaged in Israel's assault, launched after Hamas attacked Israeli towns in October last year.

The U.N. Palestinian aid agency UNRWA has converted many schools into emergency shelters for displaced families. "The longer children stay out of school, the harder it is for them to catch up and they become more vulnerable to exploitation," UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma told Reuters.

Besides the 625,000 Gazans already missing classes, another 58,000 six-year-olds should have started first grade this year. UNRWA launched a back-to-learning program in some shelters, providing mental health activities. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced repeatedly, with some fleeing up to 10 times.

In the latest evacuation notice, Israel informed residents of an area in northern Gaza to vacate due to renewed rocket fire into Israel. The area is deemed a dangerous combat zone, an Israeli military spokesperson announced in Arabic on X.

The UN urged parents in northern Gaza to get children vaccinated against polio, with limited pauses in fighting allowing the campaign. So far, it has reached more than half the children in Gaza needing the drops. A second round will follow in four weeks.

Health officials reported Israeli airstrikes killed eight people on Monday in Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters engaged Israeli forces across Gaza with rockets and mortars. The Israeli military said it dismantled militant infrastructure and killed dozens of militants, including senior commanders.

The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's response has killed over 40,900 Palestinians. Both sides blame each other for the ongoing violence and lack of a ceasefire.

(With inputs from agencies.)