Ministry Announces Student Casualties
The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education has officially confirmed the death of Jihad Naim Abu Tilkh, a 13-year-old student, following an Israeli airstrike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, November 12, 2026.
In a statement released by the ministry, officials identified Abu Tilkh as an eighth-grade student at “Hayat Gaza” School, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Khan Younis Directorate of Education. The ministry emphasized that his death is part of a broader toll resulting from the strike on the civilian hospital facility. The attack reportedly claimed the lives of six individuals, including a doctor, a child, and a person with disabilities, while injuring approximately 30 others.
Total Toll Reaches Eight
The ministry stated that Abu Tilkh’s death brings the total number of children and students killed by Israeli shelling and gunfire in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of November to eight. This figure follows the earlier deaths of seven other students during the same period.
The victims listed by the ministry include Abu Bakr Hajaj, aged 13; Rimas Al-Madhhoun, aged 16; Muhammad Nidal Barbak, aged 14; Mariam Ahmad Nabhan, aged 6; Salah Ahmad Nabhan, aged 8; university student Basma Al-Saksak; and university student Sara Abu Jiab.
Condemnation and International Appeal
Expressing outrage over the loss of life, the ministry questioned what crimes these children and students had committed to be deprived of their lives and educational opportunities. It asserted that their deaths reflect the severe losses incurred by the education sector due to the continuation of Israeli attacks.
The ministry condemned the targeting of hospitals, the killing of children, patients, and medical staff as serious violations of international norms. It called upon the international community to confront the consequences of strikes on health facilities and civilians in the strip.
Furthermore, the ministry urged the UN Security Council and the global community to fulfill their responsibilities by taking immediate action to halt the aggression against Gaza. It demanded the provision of protection for civilians and guaranteed measures to prevent the recurrence of attacks on children, healthcare institutions, and educational sites.
