West Bank school attacks and Gaza education destruction dominate new academic year

Key points

• Three pupils at a school south of Nablus were killed by Jewish extremist settlers between April and September 2026, according to BBC.
• Parents in the West Bank are volunteering to stand outside school gates, and ambulance crews are stationed on nearby roads due to safety fears, per BBC.
• The UK government is set to ban Israeli goods from West Bank settlements as part of a new policy toward Israel, reported by BBC.
• Israel destroyed 179 government schools and approximately 105 UNRWA schools in Gaza, according to the Royal Commission for Jerusalem Affairs (RCJA).
• Tens of thousands of students and teachers in Gaza have been killed, wounded, imprisoned, or missing, with all educational institutions rendered inoperable, per RCJA.
• The West Bank faces daily raids, closures, and demolition of schools, affecting over 850,000 students, including 120,000 in Jerusalem, according to RCJA.

Background

The 2020 UN General Assembly resolution established September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. Previous conflicts in the region have seen significant damage to educational infrastructure, but the current scale of destruction in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank marks a new phase of disruption. Jordan has historically acted as a custodian of holy sites in Jerusalem and supports Palestinian education through Waqf schools and international organizations like UNESCO and UNRWA.

How outlets are covering it

BBC focuses on the immediate safety crisis in the West Bank, highlighting settler attacks, parental vigilance, and the UK’s new sanctions policy. Daily Sabah’s content was inaccessible due to a cookie consent wall, but its title suggests Israel raided two West Bank schools on the first day of the academic year. Fana News, citing the RCJA, emphasizes the broader humanitarian and legal dimension, labeling Israel’s actions a crime against humanity and detailing the total destruction of Gaza’s education system. Alquds.com frames the situation as a systematic policy of subjugation and displacement, describing the start of the school year as a 'hurdle race' for children amid ongoing violence and forced displacement in the north.

Why it matters

The convergence of settler violence in the West Bank and total educational destruction in Gaza signals a deepening crisis in Palestinian civilian life and cultural identity. The UK’s new sanctions policy may shift diplomatic dynamics, while the scale of school destruction in Gaza and the displacement of students in the West Bank threaten long-term stability and international norms protecting education in conflict zones.

What to watch

The UK is expected to implement its ban on goods from West Bank settlements. In the West Bank, parents and emergency services will continue to monitor school safety as settler attacks persist. In Gaza, the absence of functional schools for a fourth year will likely exacerbate long-term educational and social consequences. International bodies like UNESCO and UNRWA may face increased pressure to respond to the destruction of their facilities and the broader assault on Palestinian education.