Rabat – On the occasion of the Palestinian Teachers’ Day, the Palestinian Ministry of Education has highlighted the tragic toll on teachers during the months-long Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The ministry expressed deep sorrow, revealing that more than 200 teachers and educational staff have lost their lives so far due to the Israeli offensive.
“Amidst very challenging circumstances, Palestinian teachers persist in nurturing our students, enriching their minds, and shaping the future,” the statement said.
It emphasized that Israel continues targeting Palestinian teachers in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The statement noted that dozens of teachers were arrested in the West Bank, and hundreds faced obstacles in reaching their schools, coupled with daily harassment, especially in Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and Masafer Yatta.
Despite these challenges, the ministry praised Palestinian teachers for their dedication and commitment, both in physical classrooms and online, “proving that their will can never be conquered.”
Teachers in the Gaza Strip are educating students even while seeking refuge in sheltering centers, the statement noted.
Meanwhile, “their peers in Jerusalem play a pivotal role in safeguarding the authenticity of the Palestinian curriculum and narrative,” the ministry stressed.
It underlined that across Palestine, teachers choose education as a form of liberation, countering attempts to undermine the Palestinian national identity.
On this occasion, the Palestinian Ministry of Education renewed its call on international institutions, notably UNESCO, to take responsibility for protecting Palestinian teachers and the education sector from the relentless Israeli offensive targeting them.
The ministry urged these institutions to ensure the well-being and rights of Palestinian educators, aligning with the global support extended to teachers worldwide.
