Palestine is the world’s longest-standing human rights crisis. Over many years of solidarity work with Palestinian educators and human rights organisations, the NEU has developed significant knowledge and solidarity work among NEU members. We have strong and sustained partnerships with organisations in Palestine, including our sister union, the General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT). For over five years, the NEU has helped fund a project to support newly-qualified women members of the GUPT with strategies for online teaching and learning as well as supporting them to become active members of their union.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Palestinian children have borne the brunt of Israel’s war on Gaza, facing intense and widespread bombardment, famine, and displacement and inability to attend school.
Children have been exposed to extreme levels of violence, loss of loved ones, and constant fear, and have experienced psychological distress and trauma. They have lost family members, their classmates, their teachers, their schools, and their sense of safety.
Since October 2023, more than 21,000 children have been killed, 44,500 injured, and at least 17,000 orphaned or separated from both parents.
Despite the ceasefire agreed in October 2025, hostilities and military activity have continued to take lives and destroy infrastructure.
Life-saving humanitarian aid faces barriers to entering and moving freely throughout Gaza. UNWRA and other humanitarian actors continue to report operational challenges in delivering essential services, affecting access to WASH facilities, healthcare, and food.
Israel’s restrictions and obstruction of humanitarian support and assistance to the Palestinian people represent a willful disregard for the most fundamental principles of international law and human rights.
Sustained military operations have maintained disruption to the education of Palestinian children, with makeshift schools enduring extensive and deliberate attacks since the start of the war.
Since 2023, the NEU has made several significant financial contributions to humanitarian relief efforts. Our joint fundraising appeal with Save the Children to support its vital humanitarian work in Gaza raised more than £156,000.
Education under attack in Gaza
Gaza’s formal education system has been brought to a halt in Gaza since October 2023. The NGO-led occupied Palestinian territory Education Cluster, reports that over 97% of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 680 teachers killed. Educational materials – including pens, paper and books – are also prohibited from entering Gaza due to the blockade. UN human rights experts have described the systemic destruction of the Palestinian education system as a ‘scholasticide’.
While many schools remain inaccessible due to military activity, debris and insecurity, dozens of the public schools still standing are sheltering displaced families. Against all odds, education continues through the resilience and dedication of educators who continue to support Palestinian children.
The learning loss and destruction of the education system in Gaza are unprecedented, exacerbating the already critical mental health crisis among children and youth. Experts and academics have warned that there is a severe risk of a ‘lost’ generation in Gaza due to the educational, physical and psychological impacts of the war.
Rebuilding education for Gaza’s future
It has been estimated that the cost of rebuilding Gaza will amount to US$71.4 billion. But the scale of destruction goes beyond what can be quantified. Recovering from the dehumanisation experienced, the shredding of Gaza’s social fabric, the destruction of social networks and collective trust, and all of the other human impacts of the war will take decades to recover from.
Rebuilding Gaza’s education system is not only a humanitarian necessity but an investment in peace, stability, and the future of the region. It is essential to supporting Palestinian autonomy, culture and identity, as well as the futures of the millions of children whose lives have been devastated by the war.
The NEU is urging the UK Government to lead financially and diplomatically to support the rebuilding of Gaza at the scale and speed required, including prioritisation of the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza’s devastated education system.
Read the NEU’s policy briefing on rebuilding education for Gaza’s future.
Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli military operations, settler violence, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions and threats of annexation combine in a toxic mix of oppression to blight the lives of the Palestinian people.
Access to education is also severely disrupted for 782,000 students. The Education Cluster has identified that 84 schools are under pending demolition orders, and hundreds more face access restrictions and frequent attacks on students and staff.
Palestinian teachers have lost over 15 months of salary due to Israel’s withholding of tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority.
Solidarity Actions
- Donate to the DEC Middle East Appeal
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to work as a united front in times of crisis, with one shared mission – to help as many children and families as possible.
DEC charities and their local partners are providing lifesaving aid in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria, but urgently need more funds.
Any support that districts or members can provide to the appeal will make a significant difference.
Donate to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.
- Support teachers in Gaza and Palestine
The NEU is proud to support Education International’s (EI) solidarity fund for teachers in Gaza and Palestine. The fund is providing direct assistance to teachers affected by the war, as well as supporting the General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT) to organise training sessions for members to provide emotional support to their students who are traumatised by the war.
Districts and members can donate to the Solidarity Fund here: Education International ING Bank 24, Avenue Marnix 1000 Brussels IBAN: BE05 3101 0061 7075 Swift: BBRUBEBB With the indication: Humanitarian Assistance Appeal 2023/11. Please do not include the word ‘Palestine’ in labelling your payment, as banks are suspicious of bank transfers to zones at war or undergoing political instability.
- Support our partner organisations in Palestine
The NEU works closely with a number of partner organisations on human rights issues in Palestine, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Nina Franklin Fund, the Hebron International Resource Network (HIRN), and the Hands Up Project.
We encourage districts to support the vital work of these key partner organisations, including by affiliating with them and making financial contributions.
- Attend national and local actions for Palestine
The NEU has been a leading presence at every National Demolition for Palestine since October 2023. Districts and members also continue to support a range of local actions in their communities.
NEU Districts and branches are encouraged to attend national and local actions for Palestine and to promote these with NEU members.
Details of forthcoming events can be found on the PSC website.