Palestinian children in the West Bank face profound
challenges accessing education due to Israeli military operations, settler
violence, school closures, and disruptions. Despite efforts by UNRWA and
Palestinian authorities to provide education under dire conditions, thousands
of children remain deprived of safe and consistent schooling.
The Ongoing Disruption of Education in the West Bank
As reported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on 1 September 2025, nearly 46,000 Palestinian
refugee children started the new school year in the occupied West Bank amidst
severe disruptions including the forced closure of schools by Israeli
authorities. These closures affected nearly 800 children in East Jerusalem
alone, restricting many from attending school and leaving some without options
for alternative education enrollment.
UNRWA highlighted that in the northern West Bank,
particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps, ten schools remain
closed due to Israeli military operations such as Operation ‘Iron Wall’. More
than 4,000 children impacted by these closures continue their learning via
remote programmes, self-study materials, or in makeshift learning spaces.
Military Incursions and Settler Violence Undermine Educational Access
According to Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) reporting in late October 2024, Israeli military incursions and regular lockdowns in Palestinian cities and refugee camps create a hostile environment that severely restricts school attendance and jeopardizes students’ safety and psychological wellbeing. Ayed Abu Eqtaish, DCIP's Accountability Program Director, emphasised that
"each child has the right to safely access school under international law,"
noting that violence from both Israeli
forces and settlers routinely obstruct children even before they reach school.
Testimonies from educational staff reveal an educational environment
so volatile and threatening that teachers and students alike suffer greatly,
with mental health challenges hampering the delivery and reception of quality
education. Israeli military presence, movement restrictions like checkpoints
and roadblocks, and settler harassment compound the daily barriers Palestinian
children face on their way to school.
Impact on Gaza Education Deepens Regional Educational Crisis
In neighbouring Gaza, the educational situation remains even
more grim. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) stated in September
2025 that Gaza’s children are entering their third academic year under
displacement continuing amid a brutal conflict that systematically destroys
educational infrastructure. More than 90% of Gaza’s schools require full
reconstruction due to direct bombardments and damage, with 163 schools
completely destroyed and many others partially damaged, making conventional
schooling impossible.
Mohammed Yasser Afana, a 14-year-old displaced student interviewed by PCHR, described his experience of being forced to abandon formal education and take up street vending in displacement shelters, stating:
“What I fear most today is that my future will be trapped between a job I did not choose and an education I have lost”.
PCHR characterizes this ongoing deprivation of
education in Gaza as part of a deliberate policy amounting to "educational
genocide," aimed at crippling Palestinian children’s future prospects.
UN and NGO Efforts to Sustain Education Amid Crisis
Despite the adversity, UNRWA, the Palestinian Ministry of
Education, and international stakeholders have launched initiatives to sustain
some form of education. Distance learning programs have been supported, largely
run by displaced educators from Gaza and West Bank, overcoming obstacles like
connectivity and electricity shortages. Yet, these efforts can only partially
compensate for the loss of formal schooling, as access to technology and safe
learning environments remains limited.
The European Training Foundation report underscores the
emergence of a “lost generation,” warning that extensive periods out of school
increase dropout rates and diminish future opportunities for Palestinian
children, especially in areas where remote education is not viable.
The Continuous Need for International Attention and Protection
As violence, school closures, and military activity
recurrently destabilise education in Palestinian territories, human rights
organisations call for urgent international action. The Defence for Children
International-Palestine urges the global community to uphold children’s right
to education and life, highlighting the “systematic violation” of these rights
due to military and settler actions. Similarly, PCHR demands protective
measures to end attacks on educational institutions and ensure children can
learn in safe, dignified conditions.
UNRWA’s statement poignantly concludes by expressing hopes
that all children in the West Bank and East Jerusalem can resume education safely
and with hope, recognising education as a vital lifeline for Palestine’s future.
The reality for Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza remains stark: persistent insecurity, military operations, settler violence, and school demolitions severely restrict access to education. While agencies like UNRWA and human rights organisations strive to sustain educational opportunities, the continued disruption risks depriving generations of their fundamental right to learn, threatening not only their futures but also wider regional stability and peace. The international community’s role in protecting these children’s right to education is more critical than ever.