Education under attack: An urgent call to action to protect and promote education in Palestine
Mr. Musa Hadid, the Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, speaking at the High-Level meeting on education in humanitarian crises during the IPU Assembly in Geneva.
Speaking at the High-Level on education in humanitarian crises during the IPU Assembly in Geneva, the Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Mr. Musa Hadid, detailed the systematic devastation of the education system in the Palestinian Territories due to Israeli occupation and the ongoing military aggression.
He called on members of parliament and the global community to:
Condemn the targeting of education as a grave violation of international humanitarian law
Deliver urgent logistical, technical, and psychological support to rehabilitate schools and ensure a safe learning environment.
Guarantee accountability and prosecution for the crimes committed against students and teachers.
Increase political and financial support for UNRWA, which is a "lifeline" for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian students.
The crisis of "Scholasticide" in Gaza
Mr Hadid set out the catastrophic impact on Gaza since the October 7th war of genocide, which has effectively halted all education for two years:
According to reports, 95% of educational institutions (schools and universities) in Gaza have been damaged or completely destroyed. He explained that classrooms are now "silent ruins" or shelters for the displaced.
An estimated 14,500 children have been killed. Around 800,000 school students and 90,000 university students have been deprived of their right to education. Hundreds of teachers have also lost their lives or been displaced.
Beyond physical damage, the war is causing deep psychological devastation for students, threatening a "lost generation" due to trauma and the complete suspension of learning.
Before the current aggression, Palestinian universities, including the Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Azhar University, were achieving academic excellence despite a long-term siege, launching research initiatives in vital fields like renewable energy and technology. The enrollment rate in Gaza was high, reaching approximately 95.2%.
Violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem
Mr Hadid shared that in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the right to education is also under siege, facing daily raids, settler violence, school demolitions, and military checkpoints that block access for students and teachers. Specific violations mentioned include the order to close six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, depriving over 800 students of learning. The intervention stressed that these actions are a flagrant breach of international law and the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration.
Persistence and international demands
Despite the destruction, Mr Hadid highlighted the unbroken determination of Palestinians, with teachers continuing to teach in tents, mosques, and temporary centers.
He concluded with a firm call to international parliaments and the global community, urging them to:
Condemn Attacks: Condemn the targeting of education as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
Provide Urgent Support: Deliver urgent logistical, technical, and psychological support to rehabilitate schools and ensure a safe learning environment.
Ensure Accountability: Guarantee accountability and prosecution for the crimes committed against students and teachers.
Strengthen UNRWA: Increase political and financial support for UNRWA, which is a "lifeline" for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian students.
The speech echoed the statement of UNICEF's Executive Director, who declared, "Schools must never be on the frontline of war," and called the horrors in Gaza a "running precedent for humanity."
The executive director of the International Parliamentary Network for Education, Mr Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, thanked Mr. Hadid for his contribution and pledged IPNEd’s support to mobilise members of the Network to support the protection of education and the rebuilding of education systems across Palestine.
