Since Israel’s war on Gaza began on 7 October, all universities within the besieged enclave have both been broken or destroyed in what human rights teams have known as an “ongoing crime of genocide“.
Palestinian establishments which had every enrolled 1000’s of scholars have been flattened by Israeli air strikes.
Not less than 95 college professors have been killed, of whom 68 held professor’s levels, based on Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
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For Gaza’s 90,000 college students, the longer term is now unsure. For Gaza, and its schooling system, the devastation will final for many years.
These are the schools affected to date.
Islamic College of Gaza
Gaza’s oldest degree-awarding establishment, the Islamic University of Gaza was based in 1978 and held its first courses in tents. By 2023, it had greater than 17,000 college students.
Israeli forces destroyed the campus on the night time of 10 October after alleging that the college produced weapons. No proof of the allegations has been supplied.
It’s not the primary time the college has been hit by Israeli forces: it was broken throughout air strikes in 2008-2009 and 2014.
Al-Israa College
Gaza’s youngest college, Al-Israa University was established in 2014. It was scheduled to mark its tenth anniversary this yr with the opening of a public museum, highlighting Palestinian historical past and tradition.
Its essential constructing was occupied for 70 days by Israeli troopers after which destroyed by explosives on 17 January.
Al-Quds Open College
Al-Quds Open College was established by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1991, and was the primary open studying institute within the Palestinian territories.
At its peak, it had 60,000 college students finding out throughout 19 branches and centres all through the West Financial institution and Gaza Strip, making it the largest non-campus college in Palestine.
Israeli forces turned college buildings into navy barracks, earlier than bombing the Gaza department on 15 November.
Al-Azhar College
Al-Azhar University was established in 1991 through the First Intifada, or rebellion, after Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat issued a decree to ascertain a Palestinian nationwide college. At its peak, it had 12 schools and 17,000 college students.
On 6 November, Israeli air forces bombed the college campus, which is situated south of Gaza Metropolis.
Palestine Technical Faculty
Positioned in Deir el-Balah, the Palestine Technical Faculty was established in 1993 and would often have 1,800 college students.
It is now turn into a shelter for Palestinians compelled to depart their properties.
College Faculty of Utilized Sciences
The University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) was based in 1998. Its essential campus is in Gaza Metropolis and enrolled 8,500 college students in 2023.
UCAS included a donor-funded non-profit start-up incubator that supported entrepreneurs within the Gaza Strip and helped aspiring entrepreneurs flip their concepts into profitable companies.
On 22 January, Israeli forces shelled UCAS. On the time, the college was sheltering displaced Palestinian households.
College of Palestine
The University of Palestine was established in 2005 in al-Zahra, south of Gaza Metropolis, as a Palestinian personal establishment for larger schooling. It has been used to shelter displaced households through the battle.
On 17 January, Israel detonated greater than 300 mines on the college.
Al-Aqsa College
In 1955, when Gaza was underneath Egyptian administration, an institute to coach lecturers was established in Gaza Metropolis.
By 1991, it had advanced into the State Faculty of Training, earlier than being later rebranded as Al-Aqsa College in 2001. In 2022, it had 32 laboratory areas and 26,000 college students enrolled.
However on 22 January, Israeli forces shelled Al-Aqsa College, which on the time was a shelter for displaced folks.
Gaza College
Gaza University was established in 2006 in Gaza Metropolis and had 10 schools, together with legislation, schooling and laptop sciences.
The college was destroyed in December by an Israeli air strike.
Hassan II College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
In 1992, the Hassan II University of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was based in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, by King Mohammed VI of Morocco with a $7.8m donation.
The faculty was destroyed by Israeli forces in December.
Dar al-Kalima College: Gaza Coaching Centre
In March 2020, the Gaza branch of Dar al-Kalima University was opened to empower potential artists by way of skilled coaching and offering alternatives for younger folks.
It hosted workshops and exhibitions of images, videography, portray and sculpture, in addition to live shows and radio broadcasts of conventional and common Palestinian music.
After Israel attacked Gaza in Might 2021, the establishment supplied artwork remedy for youngsters coping with trauma. Throughout Easter Holy Week in late March, Israeli forces destroyed the Gaza department of the artwork faculty.
