More than 800 Palestinian teachers killed by Israel in 3 years

Israel has killed more than 800 Palestinian teachers and wounded at least 3,300 others since launching its war on Gaza in October 2023, the Palestinian Education Ministry said on Sunday, ahead of World Teachers' Day on 5 October.

Amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, teachers across the occupied Palestinian territories are fighting a "real battle for survival", the ministry said in a statement reported by Anadolu.

It added that more that more than 170 educators remain in Israeli detention.

The ministry highlighted financial difficulties faced by Palestinian teachers, as Israel continues to withhold billions of dollars in Palestinian tax revenues. The withholding of funds has severely impacted public sector workers, civil servants, and medical workers, and has plunged the Palestinian Authority into a deep financial crisis.

Teachers also face restrictions in movement and harassment at Israeli checkpoint, the statement said.

The ministry called on the international community, the United Nations, and NGOs to act against violations against students and teachers. It also urged the release of detained education workers and called for the funds withheld by Israel to be released for teachers to receive their proper salaries.