United Nations, September 10 (RHC)-- The United Nations says 45,000 Palestinian children are missing their first day of school in the besieged Gaza Strip due to Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in the Palestinian territory.

On Monday, UN Under Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming issued the alert, emphasizing that this large group of six-year-olds must be protected under international law.

“45,000 6-year-olds in Gaza should have been starting their first day of school today. Under international humanitarian law, students, teachers and schools are protected. Warring parties must not direct attacks against them,” she said on X.  She also reported the alarming figures of 9,211 students killed and 14,237 others injured since Israel began its brutal war in Gaza on October 7th last year.

The genocidal war in Gaza has severely affected children in the blockaded area, with UNICEF reporting that at least 14,200 have been killed by Israeli aggression, while tens of thousands are either displaced or missing.  Those who have survived the relentless bombings and airstrikes are now experiencing an unprecedented interruption to their education.  

The UN children’s agency reports that 625,000 children have missed a year of schooling since the onset of the current war.  “Children in the Gaza Strip have lost their homes, family members, friends, safety and routine,” said Adele Khodr, UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa regional director.

“They have also lost the sanctuary and stimulation provided by school, putting their bright futures at risk of being dimmed by this terrible conflict,” she added.

The UN agencies also warned that Monday would have marked the start of the new school year in Gaza, but the ongoing war continues to deprive hundreds of thousands of children of this fundamental right.

According to Palestine’s Education Ministry, more than 630,000 students have been denied their right to education in Gaza and will not be returning to school, as the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on the territory disrupts schooling for a second year. 

Providing a higher figure than that of Fleming, the ministry says 58,000 students were supposed to join the first grade and start school on Monday, but they could not as a result of the Israeli bombardment campaign.

At least 39,000 students were unable to take their high school exams, it said, adding that more than 25,000 children, including over 10,000 students, have been killed or wounded in Israeli attacks.

According to the ministry, some 90 percent of 307 public school buildings have been destroyed by Israeli bombings and airstrikes since October.