Gaza child killed on way to school

Mohammed Hamad, a 14-year-old eighth-grade student, was killed in an Israeli strike on October 17 while walking home from school in Deir el-Balah with his 10-year-old brother, Abdullah. The strike also killed another man, though Abdullah survived.

Mohammed was the third child of Riyad Hamad, a 44-year-old father who described his son as a top student and a source of pride. Hamad expressed deep grief, stating, 'He was not just my son, he was my friend.'

Abdullah, now fearful of attending school alone, has struggled to cope with the loss of his brother. Hamad described the ongoing trauma, saying, 'We are living in fear. When I go out into the streets, I swear I am afraid.'

The academic year in Gaza resumed on September 19 after nearly three years of disruption, but Israeli strikes have continued. Between October 18 and 24, ten children and a teacher were killed, with additional injuries reported at a school in Jabalia and the Islamic University campus in Gaza City.

The Ministry of Education called for urgent international action to protect students, schools, and universities in Gaza. Risks are particularly high for schools near the Yellow Line, which has shifted to give Israel control of over 65 percent of Gaza, according to the United Nations.

Suad Abd Rabbo, a fourth-grade student, was shot in the leg during a school assembly on October 21. Her mother, Aliaa Abd Rabbo, recalled the incident, stating, 'I ran out barefoot' after hearing her daughter was shot. Suad remains hospitalized and requires surgery abroad, which is difficult to access due to Israel’s control over Gaza’s borders.

The incident has left Suad deeply frustrated and traumatized, with her mother reporting that Suad asks, 'Why did this happen to me? Why was I targeted?' Israeli military activity continues to threaten the safety of families and students in the region.