EAA Foundation Condemns Attacks on Two UNRWA Schools in Gaza
On December 15, the Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz School in Khan Younis, a UN facility sheltering forcibly displaced families, was struck, killing at least 20 Palestinians and injuring many others, including children. This attack follows an earlier strike on a UN school in Beit Hanoun, which claimed the lives of 43 civilians. These schools, located in densely populated areas, were critical sanctuaries for families fleeing violence.
The ongoing conflict has claimed 45,028 lives and injured 106,962 others, with nearly 19,000 children hospitalised in the past four months for acute malnutrition. Despite widespread international calls for a ceasefire and calls to allow humanitarian aid into the region, the crisis continues to deteriorate, leaving countless civilians especially children at grave risk.
The conflict has obliterated Palestine’s education system, heightening the risk of long-term physical and mental trauma among students. It deprives children and youth of their fundamental right to education in safety and security. According to a UNRWA study, the ongoing war in Gaza could set children and young people’s education back by up to five years and risks creating a lost generation of permanently traumatised Palestinian youth.
“Education is a fundamental human right and key to building lasting peace; it must be protected at all times especially during conflict. Schools and educational facilities must be respected as safe sanctuaries by all armed actors and they must never be targeted for attack,” states EAA Foundation.
EAA Foundation calls on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the sanctity of educational facilities, students and personnel and the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice.
EAA Foundation echoes calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges the international community to hold accountable those responsible for these grave violations and to act decisively to protect civilians.
EAA Foundation remains committed to safeguarding education during crises and calls for global efforts to ensure students’ education is not disrupted. To date, EAA Foundation has supported over 19 million children and youth worldwide, including over 7 million out of school children affected by conflict, achieving an 89.5% retention rate and reinforcing education as a universal human right.
For more information, contact EAA Media Specialists.
