A damning report released by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) has revealed that Israel’s military operations in Gaza have left more than 90% of the region’s educational infrastructure—schools and universities—either damaged or completely destroyed. This devastation has deprived over 658,000 Palestinian children of education, many of whom have already been out of school for nearly two years.
The report highlights that Israeli forces used a combination of airstrikes, shelling, burning, and controlled demolitions to target educational institutions. In many cases, there was little or no warning before attacks, despite civilians—particularly children—being present in the buildings. The Israeli military reportedly justified the assaults by later labeling the bombed areas as “former educational facilities,” a tactic seen by the Commission as an effort to avoid accountability under international law.
Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission, expressed grave concern, stating, “We are seeing more and more indications that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life in Gaza.” She emphasized that the deliberate targeting of schools, cultural centers, and places of worship would have long-term consequences on Palestinian identity and the right to self-determination.
The Commission also reported that Israeli forces had occupied several schools and repurposed them for military use. In a particularly controversial case, a section of Al-Azhar University’s Al-Mughraqa campus was allegedly converted into a synagogue for Israeli troops.
While the report acknowledged a single instance where Hamas used a school for military purposes—an act that violates international humanitarian law—it overwhelmingly criticized Israel for systematic violations, including attacks on religious and cultural sites. Over half of Gaza’s religious and cultural landmarks, many of which were being used as civilian shelters, have also been destroyed.
In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, the report documented Israeli control and restriction over cultural heritage sites of significant importance to Palestinians and other communities. Such actions, the report stated, are part of an erasure of the region’s multi-faith historical identity.
The Commission has called on Israel to:
Cease all attacks on educational, cultural, and religious institutions
End the occupation of Palestinian territory and dismantle illegal settlements
Comply with international humanitarian and human rights law
Implement all provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice
It also urged Israel to join the Safe Schools Declaration and ensure immediate protection for children’s rights, while emphasizing that Palestinian authorities must also safeguard all cultural heritage and avoid the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) detailed the case of a malnourished five-year-old child whose survival now depends on emergency aid.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, criticized the continuous blockade of aid and called for Israel to allow safe and unrestricted humanitarian access. He warned that delays in aid delivery could lead to mass starvation, particularly among one million children.
Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that desperate civilians intercepted aid convoys carrying wheat flour due to extreme hunger. Delays and security issues have slowed down aid access—far below the levels seen during the temporary ceasefire earlier this year.
The WFP urged for an immediate ceasefire, faster clearance of aid trucks, and consistent access to ensure food and essential supplies reach the starving population.
The UN Commission’s findings underscore a deepening catastrophe in Gaza, where the destruction of education, culture, and essential services, along with restrictions on aid, continue to inflict severe suffering on civilians—especially children.
