In a powerful and impactful statement, 19 independent experts and rapporteurs affiliated with the United Nations issued a warning regarding an educational tragedy sweeping through the Gaza Strip. The statement came after more than 80% of schools in the region were destroyed during the brutal Israeli aggression that lasted for over half a year.

The occupying entity is deliberately working to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian education system, and this crime is known as "educational genocide." The attacks by the Israeli entity and its ongoing aggression on the educational infrastructure in Gaza, including schools and universities, pose a terrifying threat to the rights of the population to education and freedom of expression. This reality deprives another generation of Palestinians of their future and aspirations.

The term "educational genocide" refers to a series of horrific crimes that include the arrest, detention, and killing of teachers, students, and staff, as well as the destruction of educational infrastructure.

According to the statement, this bloody war lasted for 6 months and resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 students, 261 teachers, and 95 university professors. More than 7,000 students and 756 teachers were injured, with the numbers increasing day by day. Additionally, it is estimated that around 625,000 students are suffering from a lack of educational opportunities.

Furthermore, 195 heritage sites, including the central archives of Gaza, which holds a history spanning 150 years, were damaged or destroyed. Approximately 227 mosques, 3 churches, and 13 public libraries were also affected. In addition to that, Al-Isra University was demolished on January 17th, which was the last remaining university in Gaza.

The educational genocide in Gaza is a crime against humanity and a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of children and youth to access education, amidst an international silence regarding the occupation's crimes and violations.