Almost 90 Percent of Schools in Gaza Damaged or Destroyed Due to Israeli Aggression

UNRWA schools in Gaza destroyed by Israeli aggression. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - Nearly 90 percent of school buildings across the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed during Israel's two-year war in the region, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Thursday.

In a post on the US social media company X, the agency said the schools that are still standing have mostly been converted into shelters, so children receive education in temporary classrooms or through digital platforms.

"Throughout Gaza, almost 90 percent of all school buildings were damaged or destroyed during the war," the agency said, adding that its teams continued to provide learning support despite widespread destruction, Anadolu reported (13/2).

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and 251 others hostage, according to Israeli calculations, quoted from Reuters.

Israel responded by carrying out air raids, blockades and military operations in the Palestinian enclave.

January last year, Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire, before the conflict continued in March as the ceasefire ended.

Until yesterday, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip had reached 72,049 people, while the number of injured reached 171,691 people, quoted from WAFA.

Last October, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Turkey, to realize peace efforts.

However, Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement with 591 people killed and 1,583 injured since the agreement was reached.