UNICEF Reports Surge in Attacks on Gaza Schools, Calls for Ceasefire to Protect Displaced Children

The program aims to improve teaching of reading skills in basic education by training 390,000 teachers for reading instruction, among other initiatives.

UNICEF has reported at least 64 attacks on schools in Gaza during October, amounting to nearly two assaults per day. These schools, many of which serve as shelters for displaced families and children, have increasingly become targets amidst escalating hostilities in the region. An estimated 128 individuals, including a significant number of children, lost their lives in these attacks last month alone.

The total number of attacks on Gaza’s educational institutions has reached 226 since the beginning of the conflict in 2022, according to the latest data from UNICEF and its partners. Over one million children have been forced from their homes over the past 14 months, and many now face daily threats even while sheltering in schools. "Schools should never be on the frontlines of war," emphasized UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "The horrors we are seeing in Gaza are setting a dark precedent for humanity, where children seeking safety in classrooms are hit with bombs at unprecedented rates. Trauma and loss have become their daily norm."

Around half of the recorded school attacks in October were concentrated in northern Gaza, where renewed bombardments, widespread displacement, and limited aid supplies have placed children in grave danger. Many of these schools not only offer shelter but also serve as centers for malnutrition treatment amid Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

International Humanitarian Law classifies schools as protected spaces; however, more than 95 per cent of Gaza’s schools have sustained damage since hostilities reignited in October 2023. At least 87 per cent of these facilities are so severely damaged that they require extensive reconstruction before resuming educational activities. This loss of safe learning environments has left approximately 658,000 school-aged children in Gaza disconnected from all formal education. UNICEF warns that this disruption increases the risk of child labour and early marriage, deepening the psychological distress already inflicted on these young lives.

The ongoing violence has led to what UNICEF calls a "grave violation" of children’s rights. The organization has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, urging all parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in compliance with international law. “Every day this violence continues, more lives are shattered, and more futures are lost,” Russell noted. She urged conflict parties to respect International Humanitarian Law, protect schools and civilian spaces, and uphold children's rights, particularly their right to education and protection.

The destruction of education facilities and the interruption of schooling are creating long-term challenges for Gaza’s future. UNICEF has called for immediate action to rebuild educational infrastructure, provide mental health support to traumatized children, and create safe learning spaces. The organization also appeals for international support to expand humanitarian aid access, ensuring that basic needs are met for the thousands of displaced families.

UNICEF is coordinating with local and international partners to distribute emergency educational materials, offer psychosocial support, and address the immediate needs of children and families in Gaza. However, without a ceasefire, these efforts face significant obstacles. UNICEF underscores that a ceasefire would allow the agency to deliver essential resources to the region and help children and families begin to heal and rebuild.