Gaza education ministry warns after five students killed in attacks

The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the severe consequences of ongoing Israeli attacks targeting schoolchildren in the Gaza Strip. This alert came after the student death toll reached five, following confirmation that 15-year-old Majd Mohammed Fakhri Hassan was killed in recent violence.

The ministry stated that the continuous targeting of pupils by Israeli forces highlights the extreme dangers surrounding children. These actions deprive them of their basic rights to life, safety, and education, creating an environment where families and educators face constant peril while attempting to maintain normal routines.

Officials emphasized that the deaths of five students in successive incidents must not be viewed as mere statistics. They described these losses as devastating for both humanity and the education sector, violating the rights of children who deserve protection and the ability to study without fear of bombardment or gunfire.

Students encounter threats while commuting to class and within their residential areas, raising serious safety concerns. The ministry noted that these dangers impose legal and humanitarian duties on the global community, which must act urgently instead of simply observing events and tallying the number of casualties recorded each day.

The ministry called on the United Nations, UNICEF, and human rights experts to move beyond monitoring violations. It demanded tangible legal and protective steps to safeguard students, reduce their risk of injury or death, and guarantee secure passage to educational centers across the strip.

It urged independent documentation of attacks on students and thorough investigations into each case. The ministry insisted on holding those responsible accountable under international law, while establishing immediate safeguards for children, teachers, and schools to prevent future incidents and end the current wave of violence.

Protecting children is a binding legal obligation, not an optional gesture, the ministry affirmed. It stressed that the right to education cannot exist without the right to life, noting that every killed student represents a lost future and a grieving family suffering irreparable harm.