DayofPal— A Palestinian schoolgirl was shot dead by Israeli forces on Thursday while attending class inside a makeshift tent school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, according to a statement by the Gaza Ministry of Education.
The victim, identified as Ritaj Abdul Raouf Rehan, was a third-grade student, who struggles daily threats to attend her classes.
Officials said she was killed by live fire while seated among her classmates during a lesson held in a temporary classroom, set up after widespread destruction of school infrastructure across the enclave.
According to testimonies from the school, the child was receiving her lessons inside a tent classroom of Abu Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah school, which is being run under exceptional conditions atop the ruins of its destroyed building.
A school administrator said the attack took place during the transition between class periods, when teachers were in the process of dismissing students from the classroom, shortly before the sudden sound of gunfire was heard.
He added: “We did not expect bullets to reach inside the tents we use as classrooms, but we were shocked when we found the girl, Ritaj, struck directly in the head.”
He said the child collapsed immediately inside the classroom, sparking panic and shock among students and teachers.
Staff members quickly attempted to provide first aid and transported her to hospital, but she was pronounced dead on the way due to her injuries.
The school is located in the Beit Lahia area, around two kilometres from the so-called Yellow Line.
The attack triggered shock and psychological distress among students and teachers present at the scene.
The Ministry described the killing as a “heinous and brutal crime,” adding that it reflects a broader pattern of indiscriminate attacks against civilians, particularly children, amid the ongoing war.
In its statement, the Ministry held Israel fully responsible for the assault and similar attacks, adding that such attacks are part of a prolonged military campaign that has severely impacted Gaza’s civilian population and infrastructure.
The Ministry called for urgent international intervention, including independent investigations and accountability measures, to address systematic targeting of civilians.
Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, Gaza’s education system has been largely dismantled. Hundreds of schools have been destroyed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families, leaving approximately 700,000 students without access to formal education.
In response, volunteer teachers have organized informal classes in overcrowded tents across various areas.
Despite limited resources, poor weather conditions, and ongoing security threats, many children continue to attend these makeshift schools in an effort to maintain some continuity in their education.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=73705
