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541,000 Students Return to Gaza Schools as 97% Damaged

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Palestinian Ministry of Education says 541,000 students returned to Gaza schools on September 19.
UNRWA opened 86 learning spaces for grades 1-9 at the 2026-2027 school year start.
97% of Gaza’s schools were damaged or destroyed since October 2023, leaving 658,000 without classrooms.
Education Ministry aims to run roughly 320 schools this year, up from 270.
Ibrahim Ramadan reported 777 education workers and over 22,000 students killed in the conflict.

History

Historical Context

Operation Cast Lead, the three-week Gaza war that began on 27 December 2008, razed roughly 2,692 buildings and left tens of thousands homeless. The assault destroyed around 200 schools, displacing 200,000 children. The 2023-24 Israel-Hamas fighting has again crippled Gaza’s education system, with UNRWA reporting 97 % of schools damaged and the Palestinian Ministry of Education expanding from 270 to 320 schools.

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Story summary

Palestinian Ministry of Education says 541,000 students returned to Gaza schools on September 19.
UNRWA opened 86 learning spaces for grades 1-9 at the 2026-2027 school year start.
97% of Gaza’s schools were damaged or destroyed since October 2023, leaving 658,000 without classrooms.
Education Ministry aims to run roughly 320 schools this year, up from 270.
Ibrahim Ramadan reported 777 education workers and over 22,000 students killed in the conflict.

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