Gaza's Education Annihilation Is Not Collateral Damage
Al Jazeera quietly observes Palestinians in Gaza striving to resuscitate their education system, noting how war has shuttered universities and schools. This portrayal, while accurate on the surface, sidesteps the stark reality that these closures are not incidental but the direct result of systematic targeting. Connect these dots: satellite imagery and UN reports confirm over 80% of Gaza's schools
and all 12 of its universities have been damaged or destroyed since October 2023. These aren't just buildings; they are critical social infrastructure, much like the 1948 Nakba saw the systematic destruction of over 500 Palestinian villages, effectively erasing their communities and societal anchors. Erasing education and cultural institutions is a documented practice in conflicts aimed at ethnic
cleansing. This 'scholasticide' strategy echoes historical patterns where conquerors dismantle the conquered's capacity for self-governance and cultural continuity. While Western media laments the 'struggle to restart,' they rarely question the intent behind the widespread demolition of libraries, archives, and institutions of higher learning, which serve as bastions of Palestinian identity and
resistance against occupation. When the very foundations of knowledge are targeted, the message is clear: not only must the current generation be silenced, but future generations must also be denied the tools for self-determination. This organized attack on Palestinian intellect is a crucial component of the ongoing attempt to make Gaza unlivable, creating conditions for forced displacement, a