School bombings
Classrooms Turned to Rubble
The Destruction of Gaza’s Educational Infrastructure
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes targeting schools and universities across Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. These attacks have resulted in widespread destruction of educational infrastructure, disrupting the lives of thousands of students and educators. Reports indicate that multiple institutions, including primary schools and higher education facilities, have been struck, leading to casualties and injuries among displaced civilians taking shelter. The targeting of such vital spaces raises significant concerns about the protection of Palestinian civilians under international law.
International humanitarian law (IHL) strictly prohibits the bombing of schools, a protection rooted in several key legal frameworks, including the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. The Fourth Geneva Convention articulates the necessity of safeguarding civilian properties, particularly those essential for education, from military attacks. Article 147 outlines that extensive destruction conducted unlawfully and wantonly against institutions dedicated to education is a grave breach. Additionally, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines attacks against civilian objects, such as schools, as war crimes when carried out with the knowledge that they are not military objectives. These legal standards underscore the imperative to protect children and educational facilities, affirming that such attacks are not only immoral but also criminal under international law.
Sarkha Project has meticulously gathered open-source video and imagery documenting the bombings of schools and the occurrences of school massacres in the Gaza Strip. These materials provide compelling evidence that Israeli forces are deliberately targeting civilians who seek refuge within these educational institutions, following the destruction of their homes and neighborhoods due to aerial bombardments.
Click on image for original source
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by Eye On Palestine
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by Majdi Fathi
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by UNRWA
Photo by Almoshtabik
Phot by Hossam Shbat
Phot by AbdulHakim Abu Riash
At least 64 incidents targeting schools occurred in the Gaza Strip last month, averaging almost two attacks per day, as reported by UNICEF and its partners on November 8, 2024. Approximately 128 individuals were said to have lost their lives in these strikes, with a significant number of victims being children.The assaults on schools in October, many of which function as shelters for displaced families and children, have raised the cumulative total to 226 attacks since the conflict erupted last year. Over the past 14 months, more than one million children have been forced to flee their homes.
Since hostilities began in October 2023, over 95 percent of schools in Gaza have suffered partial or total destruction. A minimum of 87 percent of these institutions will need extensive repairs before they can resume operations. Additionally, approximately 658,000 children of school age in Gaza are now cut off from all formal educational activities.
When schools are bombed in conflict zones, the tragic consequence is the loss of innocent lives, including children who seek refuge from violence. In Gaza, many internally displaced families have turned to schools for shelter amid relentless assaults. However, the very institutions meant to provide protection become sites of devastation. This deliberate targeting of civilian spaces exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation, leaving families in fear and grief, while highlighting the urgent need for accountability and the protection of human rights in conflict situations. The impact on the children—who represent the future of their communities—is particularly devastating, as their lives are shattered by the horrors of war, and their right to safety and education is violently stripped away.
Sarkha Project is currently engaged in the meticulous processing of evidence pertaining to documented school bombings in Gaza ; however, we recognize the urgency of your request. Accordingly, we invite you to submit an evidence request in advance. While we are unable to provide immediate access to the processed materials, we assure you that once the analysis is complete and the evidence is validated, we will promptly fulfill your request. This procedure underscores our commitment to ensuring that all disseminated information adheres to our rigorous standards of accuracy and integrity.
The images displayed in the gallery above are not owned by Sarkha Project and are used solely for educational and informational purposes related to the documentation of human rights violations. If you are the copyright holder of any image and wish to have it removed, please contact us directly, and we will promptly address your request. All efforts have been made to credit the respective owners, and we respect all copyright laws.