GAZA CITY
At least 141 schools in the Gaza Strip have been damaged by Israel's weeks-long offensive – currently on hold – against the Palestinian enclave, the Palestinian Education Ministry said Monday.
Of these, 22 schools were completely destroyed and would not be able to receive students in the new academic year that is due to begin later this month, the ministry said.
The estimated cost of repairing affected schools could be as much as $10 million, the ministry noted in a statement.
Losses sustained by Gaza's education sector were not confined to buildings, the ministry added, pointing out that at least 19 educational workers had been slain during Israel's onslaught.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are currently in Cairo for indirect talks after an Egypt-brokered, 72-hour ceasefire came into effect on Monday to look into the possibility of hammering out a long-term truce.
At least 1940 Palestinians have been killed thus far in one of Israel's deadliest-ever offensives on the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian officials, while around 10,000 Palestinians have been injured.
Israel says its "Operation Protective Edge" is aimed at stopping Gaza-based Palestinian groups' ability to fire rockets at the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
According to Israeli figures, at least 64 Israeli soldiers have been killed in battles with Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip, while three civilians were killed by Palestinian rocket attacks.
By Ola Attalah
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