The military siege imposed by Israeli forces on the city of Hebron and surrounding areas, including Jalda and Ain Baheh, has deprived approximately 80,000 students of access to education during the fourth week of October.
The military siege imposed by Israeli forces on the city of Hebron and surrounding areas, including Jalda and Ain Baheh, has deprived approximately 80,000 students of access to education during the fourth week of October. The closure of main and secondary roads, coupled with continued raids and military operations, has further intensified the educational and humanitarian crisis in the governorate.
A report issued by the Hebron Directorate of Education revealed that Israeli military measures have brought the educational process to a near standstill. The inability of students and teachers to reach educational institutions has forced schools to replace in-person classes with online learning and home assignments. According to the report, 66 schools have been directly affected by the military measures, while 2,872 students have been impacted. Of these, 2,198 are directly affected by the siege, while 674 are forcibly displaced students who can no longer reach their schools.
The report also indicated that the siege has affected educational staff, with 119 teachers impacted, including 98 trapped by the restrictions and 21 forcibly displaced. In addition, six administrative and support staff members have been affected, including two educational supervisors, two deputy school principals and two school cleaners. The directorate said that restrictions on movement and difficulties faced by students and teachers had forced all schools in Hebron city to switch to online attendance and assignment-based learning from Sunday to Thursday. This measure deprives children of a direct classroom environment and threatens the continuity of the educational process.
The directorate warned that the continued closure of roads through earth barriers and iron gates was worsening the educational and humanitarian crisis and undermining thousands of children's right to in-person education. It also expressed serious concerns about the impact of prolonged educational disruption on students' academic performance and psychological and social stability.
On the ground, Israeli forces have continued their siege and closure of the Jalda and Deir Baheh areas since last Friday, while carrying out raids on residents' homes and damaging household belongings. As a result, the number of affected families has risen to more than 780, while approximately 5,000 residents are facing conditions of siege and forced displacement. Since the military campaign began last Friday, more than 115 Palestinians, including a girl, have been arrested. Hundreds of others have also been detained and subjected to physical abuse, as the consequences of the military measures have spread to all aspects of daily life, particularly education.
These figures highlight the scale of the impact of the siege on Palestinian children's right to education. The consequences of school and road closures extend beyond the suspension of in-person classes, affecting access to educational materials and making it increasingly difficult for students to continue their studies. These challenges are compounded by the severe pressures facing displaced and besieged families amid deteriorating economic conditions. Concerns are growing that continued closures and raids could prolong the disruption to education and widen learning gaps among students, particularly those who have been unable to reach their schools or have been forced to leave their homes. The lack of stable conditions is making it increasingly difficult for children to continue their education regularly.
