The war on education

How Israel’s destruction of schools and universities
will set Gaza back decades

By Nagham Mohanna and Nada AlTaher

Months of Israeli bombardment in Gaza has left large swathes of the strip unrecognisable to its residents.

Every aspect of civic life has been affected to the point of collapse. Critical infrastructure has been ruined, and basic services from healthcare and sewerage to communications and the education system has been almost entirely disrupted.

Hours after the Hamas attack on October 7, Israel responded by sending troops to the border towns and unleashing air strikes on the densely populated strip.

Twenty days later, after a few smaller-scale raids into Gaza, Israel launched a full ground invasion, cutting off internet and mobile services before sending in about 20,000 troops supported by armoured tanks.

Within a month of the attack, all schools and universities closed – a familiar tale for young people in Gaza, some of whom are currently experiencing a sixth major war with Israel in their lifetime.

The Israeli army has since either destroyed or damaged every university in the strip with air strikes or controlled demolition, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

UN figures show that, by early January, about 75 per cent of the enclave’s education infrastructure had been damaged.

Educide

More than 95 university professors, hundreds of teachers and thousands of pupils and students were killed between October and February, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor told The National, in what some academics and rights groups have said constitutes educide – the mass destruction of education.

“It's clear from the beginning of this military operation that the Israeli army had a plan to strategically strike all educational facilities,” said Youssef Salam, legal researcher at Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, an independent, non-profit organisation based in Geneva.

Buildings destroyed by the Israeli bombardment at the site of a school in Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

Buildings destroyed by the Israeli bombardment at the site of a school in Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

Dr Inas Dahlan, a lecturer at Al Aqsa University in Gaza city, said the attack on educational institutions was an attempt to marginalise Palestinians in the enclave.

“There are clear [cases of] targeting the education system in the Gaza Strip, especially after the recent significant advancements in the educational and pedagogical systems in the education sector,” she said, referring to Gaza’s recent decrease in illiteracy rates.

“However, their efforts have consistently failed amid the resilience and determination of Palestinian students," she said.

Al Aqsa University, established in 1955, was the oldest governmental higher education institution in the strip until its campuses in Gaza city and Khan Younis were damaged and destroyed by Israeli forces. With a student body of about 27,000, and 500 members of faculty and staff, it was one of the largest universities in Gaza, offering bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate studies across applied sciences, arts, media, sports, finance and IT.

Palestinian graduates at a training course in Gaza city in August 2023. AFP

Palestinian graduates attend a training course in Gaza city in August 2023. AFP

In January, a video shared by journalist Amr Tabash on Instagram showed the gateway to the Khan Younis campus partially collapsed. The next month, reports emerged that two of the Gaza city campus buildings had been shelled and Israeli soldiers were shooting at civilians sheltering there.

Similar damage has been reported across the remaining 12 accredited universities in Gaza.

Euro-Med Monitor estimates the damage to universities alone amounts to more than $200 million, Mr Salam said.

“The military operation began on October 7, which is the same month the school year begins ... the aggression still hasn't stopped and students have missed more than one semester. I think it is likely to go on for another school year,” he said.

Between October 7 and February 20, more than 5,200 students were killed and about 8,700 have been injured, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education. At present, the war on Gaza has deprived more than 625,000 students of their education.

A child looks out on the destroyed Al Farouq Mosque from inside a damaged building in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

A child looks out on the destroyed Al Farouq Mosque from inside a damaged building in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

The death toll is thought to be much higher due to communication and mobility issues along the strip and the thousands of people who remain missing or unaccounted for.

The attack has also extended to libraries and publishing houses, which have been destroyed in the shelling.

“Schools and universities and homes are categorised as civilian locations, by international law, and they are prohibited from being targeted," said Mr Salam.

A donkey-pulled cart passes in front of the destroyed Al Farouq Mosque in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

A donkey-pulled cart passes in front of the destroyed Al Farouq Mosque in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

Neve Gordon, an Israeli professor of human rights law at Queen Mary University of London, told Times Higher Education that academia in Gaza had been destroyed as part of an “educide”.

“The damage of three months will take 10 to 20 years to recover from,” he said.

“Schools and universities and homes are categorised as civilian locations, by international law, and they are prohibited from being targeted.”

Youssef Salam, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

Education in Gaza before the current war

Gaza has remained under land, air and sea blockade since Israel withdrew from the strip in 2005 after the Second Intifada.

In those 17 years, the strip has come under repeated bombardment from Israeli forces, most notably during Operation Cast Lead in 2008, Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and the 2021 crisis, prompted by the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem.

Palestinians attend a student technical exhibition that displays innovations from schools across the strip, in Gaza city in June 2023. Getty Images

Palestinians attend a student technical exhibition that displays innovations from schools across the strip, in Gaza city in June 2023. Getty Images

Each war damaged Gaza’s infrastructure extensively, killing hundreds, displacing thousands, as well as disrupting education and heavily affecting the psychological welfare of pupils, students and teachers.

The blockade makes it difficult to import materials to rebuild damaged buildings and places great strain on the population’s socioeconomic conditions. A 2022 assessment by the UNHCR found that 9.1 per cent of assessed households were not planning on enrolling their children into school, with 15.2 per cent of them saying it was because they could not afford tuition fees and other related expenses. Others reported needing their children to work to support the family.

Palestinians living in Gaza who seek to travel abroad to pursue higher education struggle to obtain exit permits from Israeli authorities, while international academics and scholars are typically unable to visit universities in the strip.

A Palestinian researcher restores and archives ancient books and manuscripts in Gaza city in July 2023. NurPhoto

A Palestinian researcher restores and archives ancient books and manuscripts in Gaza city in July 2023. NurPhoto

In 2018, a group of Palestinian students in Gaza, who had obtained European visas to study at various universities in Hungary, risked losing their scholarships because of the long waiting list for an exit permit at the Rafah border.

Despite these serious hindrances, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza aged 15 and above had a literacy rate of 97.8 per cent, as of 2022, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported in September.

A man rides his bicycle past the destroyed Al Aqsa University in Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

Israeli military vehicles approach Al Quds Open University in November 2023. Reuters

An Al Azhar University building in Gaza city is heavily damaged by bombardment of the strip in February 2024. AFP

Destruction of universities

The first universities to be damaged or destroyed in the shelling were the Islamic University of Gaza in Gaza city and Al Azhar. Others suffered similar assaults, such as Israa University in southern Gaza, which Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said was used as military barracks by Israeli soldiers for 70 days before they destroyed the campus in a controlled demolition. Israeli media released a video showing the explosion on January 17.

Afterwards, the university’s administration issued a statement saying Israeli forces had used the campus as “a centre for sniping isolated civilians in the areas of Rashid Street, Al Mughraqa and Al Zahra, as well as a temporary detention centre for interrogating Palestinians, before detonating it”. It also accused the army of looting the university’s national museum of about 3,000 artefacts before it was destroyed in the demolition.

A Palestinian man walks past a heavily damaged Islamic University of Gaza building in Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

A Palestinian man walks past a heavily damaged Islamic University of Gaza building in Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

When the US inquired about the destruction of Israa University, the Israeli army said it would investigate and later added that the surrounding area had been used by Hamas “for military activity against [Israeli] forces”.

The university, which opened in 2014, was an independent, private, non-profit institution. Its main campus in Zahra City was home to six research centres and the faculties of engineering and IT, medical sciences, law, administrative and financial sciences, and humanities. The “North Campus” provided intermediate diploma programmes. About 2,000 students are understood to have been studying there before October.

According to Gaza’s government media office, 99 schools and universities have been destroyed and 295 damaged in Israeli shelling across the strip.

Known status of universities in Gaza
as of January 2024

Al Aqsa University is levelled in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

Al Aqsa University is levelled in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza city in February 2024. AFP

AL AQSA UNIVERSITY
Gaza city and Khan Younis
Damaged in bombing on November 4

AL AZHAR UNIVERSITY - GAZA
Gaza city and branch in south
Destroyed in bombing in October. It is understood the eastern part of the Gaza city campus was used as a shelter for a time. The southern campus is also destroyed

AL QUDS OPEN UNIVERSITY
Al Nassr
Damaged in air strikes after being used as a shelter

AL UMMA UNIVERSITY
Al Zahra
Destroyed

ARAB COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Rafah
Damaged in air strikes

GAZA UNIVERSITY
Gaza city
Damaged in air strikes

Islamic University of Gaza beside the UNRWA headquarters is destroyed in an air strike in October 2023. EPA

Islamic University of Gaza beside the UNRWA headquarters is destroyed in an air strike in October 2023. EPA

ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF GAZA
Gaza city
Gaza city campus destroyed on October 11. Al Zahra campus destroyed. Status of Khan Younis campus unknown

Israa University is destroyed by Israeli forces in a controlled demolition in Gaza city in January 2024. Wafa News Agency

Israa University is destroyed by Israeli forces in a controlled demolition in Gaza city in January 2024. Wafa News Agency

ISRAA UNIVERSITY
Gaza city
Destroyed in controlled demolition

PALESTINE COLLEGE OF NURSING
Khan Younis
Currently being used as a shelter

PALESTINE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Deir Al Balah
Became a shelter for Palestinians fleeing north and central Gaza in November but current status is unknown

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Gaza city
Destroyed

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Khan Younis
Unknown. A residential area near campus was hit by air strikes so the campus is thought to have been damaged

UNIVERSITY OF PALESTINE
Al Zahra City
Unknown

Students determined to carry on

The destruction of almost all of Gaza’s universities has left about 100,000 students without an education. Among them is Ansam Al Sarafandi, 19, who had just started her first year of dentistry at Al Azhar University when the bombardment began.

“I planned from the beginning to be one of the best students, but now all we’re thinking about is how to survive,” she told The National.

She and her family were living in Khan Younis but fled south to Rafah by car in early December to escape Israeli attacks. She said they were able to pack a few personal items and food but has since learnt that their home has been damaged by air strikes and is no longer inhabitable.

Children sit together in the playground of an UNRWA school in Khan Younis that became a shelter for Palestinians displaced in Israel's bombing of Gaza in late October 2023. AFP

Children sit together in the playground of an UNRWA school in Khan Younis that became a shelter for Palestinians displaced in Israel's bombing of Gaza in late October 2023. AFP

Celeen Nazer, a 21-year-old architecture student, was in her third year at the Islamic University when the war put her ambitions on hold.

Her home in Gaza city was damaged within the first week of the bombardment, forcing her family to load up their car with essentials and travel south to Rafah for safety. The family remain at a friend’s home in the southernmost region of Gaza but now – following Israel’s declaration of an incoming ground offensive on the city and the increased shelling – they are uncertain if they should stay.

She said her family have been able to escape with their lives so far but one of her close friends was not as lucky. Another close friend remains in Gaza city, where she was trapped for 11 days when Israeli soldiers surrounded her neighbourhood.

A child stands amid the rubble of a school hit during an Israeli strike in Rafah in November 2023. AFP

A child stands amid the rubble of a school hit during an Israeli strike in Rafah in November 2023. AFP

“I’m so sad that the university, where I spent most of my time, is destroyed,” she said. “The memories inside it can’t be forgotten.”

Ms Nazer hopes to return to normal life one day and complete her remaining two years of study so she can graduate.

“They wanted to break our spirits and our resilience but we will continue our education, graduate and rebuild Gaza again,” she said.

Uncertain future

Dr Dahlan said Gaza’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research was working to “develop new academic plans that align with the current situation, in collaboration with Palestinian universities in the Gaza Strip.” She said these could include online learning, which would be possible only under a permanent ceasefire and an end to the blockade on Gaza.

Palestinian men check the debris at a building damaged by Israeli air strikes in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

Palestinian men check the debris at a building damaged by Israeli air strikes in Rafah in February 2024. AFP

“This is to cater to the challenging conditions that students are facing,” she said.

“The Ministry of Education and Scientific Research has plans to compensate for the academic year and make efforts to integrate students for the completion of their university studies."

When asked about any plans to recover the lost academic year, the ministry said it could not comment.

Mr Salam from Euro-Med Monitor said recovering from the damage would take years.

“These universities are historic and major in Gaza and are continuously being developed – albeit slowly due to the siege that Gaza is under.

“The hindrance caused by the severing of young people in Gaza’s educational journey will cause them to fall behind for a year if not more.”

Palestinians walk past destroyed houses in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza in February 2024. Reuters

Palestinians walk past destroyed houses in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza in February 2024. Reuters

Even if a ceasefire is called and remaining universities can reopen, not all students will be able to complete their studies.

"I anticipate that by the time a settlement takes place, where things are in place well enough for students to rejoin the education system, a number of students will have dropped out and quit their journey in favour of working to make up for the financial situation their families are in, especially if the family lost their primary breadwinner,” said Mr Salam.

Other options to recover the lost education, such as e-learning, are also not feasible, he said, “because students are likely to have lost their homes, their laptops, or don't have the financial means to pay for this education immediately".

A mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in November 2023. Reuters

A mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in November 2023. Reuters

Ismael Thawabta, general director of Gaza’s government media office, told The National the destruction of the strip’s universities and schools was a breach of international law and human rights that guarantee access to education. He said the institutions had been deliberately targeted in an attempt to “impose a policy of systemic deprivation”.

“Targeting schools and universities through bombing and destruction not only aims at marginalising the people of Gaza but also seeks to subdue them … control them and prevent their development,” said Mr Thawabta.

“This leads to the loss of the Palestinian cause from the minds of generations.”

Refaat Alareer, a professor of English Literature at the Islamic University in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on December 7, 2023. Photo: Refaat Alareer

Sheikh Yousef Jumaa Salameh was an Islamic scholar and the former Minister of Endowments and Religious affairs. He was killed in December. Photo: Zuma Press

Professor Sufyan Tayeh, president of the Islamic University of Gaza, was killed with his family in an airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp in December 2023. Photo: The Islamic University of Gaza / Facebook

Dr Jamila Al Shanti was a faculty member of the Islamic University of Gaza and a Hamas politician. AFP

Hammam Al Louh, the only pathologist and kidney transplant expert in Gaza was killed in November 2023. Photo: QRCS

An incomplete list of the academics or higher education staff killed during Israel’s war on Gaza:

Prof Omar Saleh Farawneh, 67, professor in infertility, and former dean of the Faculty of Medicine in the Islamic University. Killed with his wife, children and grandchildren in an air strike on their home in Tel Al Hawa on October 15, 2023.
Prof Tayseer Ibrahim, dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law at Islamic University of Gaza, killed alongside his family in an air strike on Nuseirat refugee camp on October 17, 2023.
Prof Ahmed Salah Al Dalu, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine in University of Palestine. killed with 41 other family members in Israeli bombing on October 19, 2023.
Prof Sufyan Tayeh, president of the Islamic University of Gaza. Was appointed Unesco chair for Physical and Astrophysical sciences in Palestine and was listed as one of the “top 2 per cent of scientists worldwide identified by Stanford University'' in 2021. Killed with his family in an Israeli air strike on his relative’s home in Jabalia refugee camp on December 2, 2023.
Prof Ibrahim Hamed Al Astal, dean of the Faculty of Education and professor at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed with his wife, daughters and other relatives in an air strike on his home on October 23, 2023.
Prof Naeem Baroud, professor of geography and former dean of the Faculty of Arts at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed along with five members of his family in Shati refugee camp in Gaza on October 25, 2023.
Prof Azo Affana, professor at the Islamic University of Gaza, killed by Israeli bombing in Deir Al Balah on November 11, 2023.
Prof Mohammad Bakheit, former dean of the faculty of fundamentals of religion at the Islamic University of Gaza. Killed with his family on October 26, 2023.
Prof Mahmoud Abu Daf, former dean of Faculty of Education at the Islamic University of Gaza. He and his wife (listed below) were killed by a sniper after surviving an air raid on their home in early December 2023.
Dr Khitam Elwasife, physics professor and deputy dean for the Faculty of Science at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed with her husband, Mahmoud Abu Daf, and other family members in early December 2023.
Dr Muhammad Eid Shabir, microbiology professor, and former lecturer and president of Islamic University of Gaza. Killed with his wife, daughter-in-law and eldest son in an air strike on his home on November 14, 2023.
Prof Salem Abu Makhadda, academic and researcher in Islamic jurisprudence at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed in air strikes on October 19, 2023, in Deir Al Balah.
Dr Rafat Labbad, head of internal medicine at Al Shifa Hospital. Killed in air strike with his family in Gaza city on November 18.
Prof Shahada Al Bahbahani, poet, writer and professor. Killed alongside the Al Bahbahani family in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza on October 24, 2023.
Prof Fadel Abu Hein, professor of mental health at Al Aqsa University for more than 20 years. He was a researcher in psychiatry, having published many academic articles throughout his career. Killed by Israeli snipers in Khan Younis on January 23, 2024.
Dr Saeed Talal Al Dahshan, expert in international law, deputy secretary general of the Global Coalition to Support Jerusalem and Palestine, and author of the book How to Sue Israel?: The International Prosecution of Israel and Its Leaders for Their Crimes Against the Palestinians. Killed with his family in an air strike on their home in Gaza city on October 11, 2023.
Dr Mohammad Dabbour, cancer pathologist and head of the preclinical department in the college of medicine at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed in Israeli air strikes on October 13, 2023.
Dr Osama Al Muzyeeni, former Minister of Education and senior political leader of Hamas. Killed in Gaza on October 20, 2023.
Dr Refaat Alareer, poet and professor of English Literature at Islamic University in Gaza, killed in an Israeli air strike on his sister’s apartment that also killed his brother, nephew, sister and three nieces on December 7, 2023.
Dr Wael Al Zurd, an imam of the Great Omari Mosque since 1996, Al Zurd also previously lectured at Al Quds Open University. Killed on October 13, 2023, in an air strike.
Dr Ismail Abusaada, lecturer at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed on December 5, 2023.
Dr Khalid Al Ramlawi, Israa University. Survived an initial bombing that killed his parents, daughter and siblings but was then killed in another strike on December 18, 2023.
Dr Mohammad Al Najjar
Dr Raed Qaddoura. An academic, Qaddoura studied English at Al Azhar University and earned a PhD in Malaysia. He was killed among 50 other family members in Jabalia on November 20, 2023.
Dr Mohammad Abu Zour, Professor of Hadith at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed in an air strike along with 55 others in Al Zaytoun neighbourhood, south-east of Gaza city on December 7.
Sheikh Yousef Jumaa Salameh, Islamic scholar and former minister of endowments and religious affairs. Killed in an air strike on his home in Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza on December 31.
Dr Nida Affaneh, Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Islamic University of Gaza.
Dr Momen Shweideh, Islamic University of Gaza.
Dr Saeed Anwar Al Zebda, president of the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza. Killed with eight members of his family in an Israeli raid on Al Zaytoun Quarter on December 31, 2023.
Prof Siddiq Nassar, Head of Business Administration at Islamic University of Gaza.
Dr Mohammad Nassar, PR at University College of Applied Sciences.
Dr Ahmad Abu Saadeh, university lecturer. Killed on November 3, 2023, with his wife and other family members.
Dr Jamila Al Shanti, a faculty member of Islamic University of Gaza and a Hamas politician. Killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza on October 19, 2023.
Dr Ahmed Abu Absa, lecturer and dean of the Engineering College at the University of Palestine. Killed on December 13, 2023, after having been detained at the Holy Family School and released.
Dr Mohammad Jameel Al Zaaneen, University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia. Killed in an air strike on October 8, 2023, alongside his wife and four children, while visiting family in Gaza.
Dr Ismail Al Ghomri, Islamic University of Gaza.
Dr Rizeq Orouk, deputy secretary general of the Popular Resistance Movement. Killed on December 23 along with a number of family members.
Dr Waleed Al Amoudi, professor of Interpretation at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed on November 10.
Dr Abdallah Al Amoudi, died on November 11, 2023.
Dr Hassan Al Radi, economist and researcher. Killed in early November 2023.
Dr Mohammad Abu Amara
Dr Mohammad Al Louh, head of IT services at Al Aqsa University, Gaza.
Dr Khaled Al Najjar
Dr Shareef Al Asali, lecturer at Islamic University of Gaza in the College of Education. Killed along with a large number of his family members in an Israeli air strike on his home in Al Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza on December 7, 2023.
Mohammad Hassouna, university lecturer.
Dr Mohammad Abd Ahmad Al Ghafour, killed on October 23, 2023, by an Israeli air strike on his home in Khan Younis, alongside his wife, sons Bara’ and Houthaifa, and daughters Jana and Nada.
Dr Hazem Al Jamali, head of the Public Law Department at Gaza University. Killed on December 23, 2023, in an air strike on his home.
Lecturer Ameen Dabbour, died of a heart attack due to the lack of medicine.
Dr Housam Abu Anza
Dr Yehya Ghaben
Dr Khaled Sharaf, lecturer at Al Aqsa University.
Dr Anseiah Qandeel
Dr Mohammad Hammad, lecturer at Al Aqsa University.
Dr Khalil Abu Yehya, University College of Applied Sciences. Killed with his wife, children, mother and two brothers on October 30.
Dr Ziad Al Tatri, doctor at Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia. Killed on November 21 after going to check on his brother.
Dr Maisara Al Rayyes. A graduate of Al Azhar University in Gaza and King’s College London, Al Rayyes’s home was bombed on November 7 and he remained beneath the rubble of the six-storey building for 60 hours until he died.
Dr Ahmad Al Shaaer
Dr Mohmmad Odwan
Doaa Al Masri, librarian at Edward Said Library. Killed on December 7 with her parents and siblings.
Nour Al Deen Hajjaj, author. Killed in an Israel air strike on his home in Al Shujaiyya on December 2.
Dr Nahed Al Harazeen, former head of Obstetrics at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Killed with members of her family in an Israeli air strike on December 8, 2023.
Dr Nidal Qaddoura, Al Aqsa University.
Prof Ahmad Mahmoud Al Qara, Al Aqsa University.
Lecturer Mostafa Al Sawwaf. Writer and journalist. Al Sawwaf was killed along with members of his family in an Israeli air strike on his home on November 18, 2023.
Mohammed Atef Awad, lecturer and engineer at Al Quds University.
Hiba Kamal Abu Nada, poet, novelist and nutritionist. Killed in an Israeli air strike on her home in Khan Younis on October 20, 2023.
Dr Hammam Al Louh, the only pathologist and kidney transplant expert in Gaza, was killed alongside his father in an Israeli strike on his home on November 12, 2023.
Marwan Al Tarazi, director of the Centre for Continuing Education at Birzeit University branch office in Gaza.
Dr Abd Al Kareem Hashash, writer and academic researcher. Killed in an Israeli air strike on his family home on October 24, 2023.
Dr Nahed Al Refati, a lecturer in Hebrew at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed on October 24, 2023.
Tariq Thabet, a Michigan State University Hunbert H Humphrey Fellow from 2021-2022. Thabet was killed along with his wife, children and extended family in an Israeli air strike on his home in central Gaza on October 29, 2023.
Dr Adham Hassounah, media lecturer at Gaza University and journalist. Killed with his family in an Israeli air strike on his home on December 1, 2023.
Prof Adel Naser Al Saqqa, Al Aqsa University. Killed in an Israeli air strike on his home on January 7, 2024.
Nasser Ismail Al Yafawi, lecturer in oral history at Islamic University of Gaza. Killed in January 2024.
Rola Fadl Abd Al Jawad, lecturer in Multimedia at several universities and a freelancer. Killed in an air strike on November 25, 2023.
Dr Houssam Khamada, a professor in Histopathology in Gaza’s Colleges and the head of the Department of Histopathology in Al Shifa medical complex, he was shot by an Israeli sniper and left to bleed to death.
Dr Ibrahim Khayyal
Dr Bassam Shaheen, Department of Laboratory Medicine at Al Azhar University in Gaza.
Dr Khalil Nakhalla, lecturer at Islamic University of Gaza.
Sulieman Taha Abd Al Ghafour, a lecturer in the College of Science and Technology, with a master’s degree.
Prof Nesma Abu Shaqra, Al Aqsa University.
Prof Wiesam Essa, department of geography at Al Aqsa University and visiting fellow of the University of Manchester. Killed in early January 2024, when his apartment block was damaged in air strikes.
Prof Jihad Suleiman Al Masri, historian and director of Al Quds Open University’s Khan Younis branch. Killed on October 17 after succumbing to his injuries during Israeli shelling of Khan Younis.
Prof Hassan Kafarneh, Al Quds Open University.
Prof Muhammad Al Nabahin, Al Quds Open University.
Prof Ibrahim Barhoum Abu Salah, Islamic University of Gaza.
Prof Islam Suleiman Haboush, Islamic University of Gaza.
Prof Ali AlQirinawi, University of Palestine.
Prof Amin Al Bahtiti, dentist and assistant lecturer at Al Azhar University of Gaza. Killed in Israeli air strikes in November 2023 after being displaced with his mother and siblings twice.
Dr Ayman Rafati, political analyst and writer.

Source: Euro-Med, Middle East Studies Association
*Some of the details above could not be independently verified

_Words_{Nagham Mohanna and Nada AlTaher}
_Editor_{Juman Jarallah}
_{Photo Editor}_{Olive Obina and Charlotte Mayhew}
_Design_{Deepak Fernandez}
_Graphics_{Roy Cooper}
_{Sub Editor}_{Neil Macdonald}
_{Additional research by Mona Farag}