RAMALLAH, November 20, 2025 (WAFA) – On Universal Children’s Day, observed each year on November 20, Palestine reflects on the immense suffering endured by its children since the beginning of the Israeli genocide on October 7, 2023, which has claimed their lives, distributed their education, and shattered their dreams.
In a press release, on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education affirmed that more than 19,000 school children have been killed, and approximately 28,000 have been injured. Hundreds of schools, kindergartens, early childhood centers, nurseries, and playgrounds have been completely or partially damaged in Gaza and the West Bank since the beginning of this war of genocide.
It added, “On this day, designated globally to emphasize children’s rights to protection, education, dignity, care, play, and other rights, we affirm that the children of Palestine deserve to live in a stable environment that guarantees their right to free, safe, and quality education, as enshrined in international conventions and laws.” In particular, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989.
It pointed out that while the world's nations and institutions celebrate this occasion, the violations committed by Israeli army and its colonists against Palestinian children continue in various areas, including Gaza, Jerusalem, and Area C.
"Hardly a day passes without the news of a child killed by a colonist or Israeli soldier. This reality is not merely documented in numbers; it is a narrative of stories where dreams, aspirations, and hopes were shattered in moments. The effects of the crimes committed by the occupation army against Palestinian children in Gaza remain evident and demand punishment and deterrence."
The ministry called for the urgent protection of children and school students in Palestine, support for relief and educational recovery efforts for children and students in Gaza, the rehabilitation of educational infrastructure in affected areas, the expansion of psychosocial support programs for affected school students, and continued investment in equitable, quality education that fosters resilience and steadfastness.
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