Two Schools, Two Stories: The Global Silence on Palestinian Education Crisis

The recent attack on October 1st of Israel by Iran brought forth an immediate global conversation about war and ethics. The irony? It was Iran being condemned. Iran, whose 180 ballistic missiles killed just one (Palestinian) man. Honestly, ironic as it may be, its not very surprising- the powers that be do have a tendency to sweep under the rug anything that aligns with their interests (*cough* Israel’s mass destruction and ethnic cleansing).

One of the primary arguments that was being made repeatedly was the fact that a school had been damaged in Tel Aviv. Everyone was so quick to catch onto the fact- everyone was reporting it and commenting on it. Destroying a school? Sacrilegious.

Nobody is saying that the destruction of this school is a good thing. What people are saying is that if this is the response to the destruction of one school with no casualties, why do International organizations and governments have the same outcry about the destruction in Palestine?

There is no definitive, publicly accessible data on the exact number of schools destroyed by Israel, but numerous reports by human rights organizations and international bodies have documented school damage and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank due to Israeli military operations. Simply the fact that there are no official numbers and that all information is being brought through Palestinians reporting from on ground through official or unofficial platforms is enough to show the gravity of the situation- quite simply; noone who SHOULD care does.

In 2024, no students in Gaza graduated.

People should be more disturbed by this statement than they are.

Why is it that when a school in Israel is hit, the world shouts in outrage, but when Palestinian schools are reduced to rubble, there’s silence? Where’s the global uproar when Palestinian children are denied their basic right to an education? This blatant double standard is sickening. The destruction of schools in Gaza is not just collateral damage—it’s a systemic stripping of their future. Why don’t Palestinian children get the same global sympathy?

For children, education is more than just a means of learning math, science, or history. It’s a source of stability, hope, and normalcy. It provides a safe space and a sense of future during uncertain times. Despite international recognition of the right to education, millions of Palestinian children have had to leave their schools because of either them being destroyed, having to evacuate, or the children themselves being brutally killed.

Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza’s educational infrastructure has resulted in the complete disruption of schooling, leaving a whole generation of Palestinians without access to education. All schools, universities, or training centers in Gaza have remained closed since the beginning of the ongoing genocide. Rebuilding these institutions is a challenge that will take years, if not decades, further hindering the educational aspirations of Gaza’s youth. In an interview with Al Mezan, Mr. Farid Abu Athra, UNRWA’s Chief of Education Program in Gaza, said that the educational losses experienced by Palestinian students over the past ten months are irreparable. This has been given a term- “scholasticide”. Israel can never just stop at one thing, can they.

Is aid not supposed to be neutral? Why is it so entangled in politics that one blurs the lines between strategic gain and straight up inhumane? And why do the actions of a select few in power have to determine the course of the world?

It is frustrating to see the injustice unfolding in front of our eyes and the growing awareness of the fact that the pillars of the modern world (the UN and such organizations that we hold in such high regard) are just a facade in the hands of the global superpowers. There is work being done on education in conflict-affected areas, yes, but how useful is it if it is not being implemented there? Are these organizations only working for the rights of certain children? Do others not deserve education? What is the metric by which one decides which lives are more valuable than others?

Angelina Jolie perfectly captures some of the feelings that have been consuming the world’s population recently.

As the world plunges into near-disaster and speculations of World War III, one truth surfaces- the hypocrisy of the West and the ineffectiveness of the so-called organizations of peace. Just as the League of Nations rose and fell, could this conflict see the downfall of the United Nations?

this is a song that is very relevant to this blog and to my feelings about war in general.. do give it a listen and focus on the lyrics. conflict is so arbitrary its such a shame that people have to fight and not live with love.. everyone is the same inside truly and its so unfortunate that some lives are considered better than others and for what? self made notions?