An international report prepared by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom has warned of a serious risk of the emergence of a lost generation in Gaza, as a result of the combined educational, physical, and psychological impacts after more than two years of the Israeli war of genocide.

The study indicated that children in Gaza will lose the equivalent of five academic years due to the repeated closure of schools since 2020—first because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later due to the Israeli war of genocide.

This study is of great importance, as it highlights the effects of deteriorating physical and mental health on academic achievement, and demonstrates the link between malnutrition and the ability to maintain even a minimum level of educational activity.

The findings of the study are consistent with accumulated evidence on the impact of prolonged armed conflicts on children, particularly with regard to malnutrition, psychological trauma, and the loss of educational opportunities.