{
  "id": 6490999,
  "title": "End impunity for targeted attacks on schools and universities, urge experts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/end-impunity-for-targeted-attacks-on-schools-and-universities-urge",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-09T22:30:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-impunity-schools-universities-urge-experts.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scholasticide, or the deliberate targeting of education systems in armed conflict, is a grave war crime that must be condemned and perpetrators held accountable, according to experts. The BMJ editorial highlights the devastating impact of such attacks on health, education, and scientific capacity in countries like Palestine, Iran, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, and Ukraine. In Gaza alone, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed over 90% of school buildings, leaving 658,000 children without education. The loss of universities and the killing of academics in Gaza further underscores the severity of the issue. The authors argue that when these critical institutions are destroyed, it can take decades to rebuild, exacerbating long-term learning loss and economic repercussions. Despite international humanitarian law prohibiting attacks on essential services like schools and hospitals, such violations have often gone uninvestigated or unpunished, undermining confidence in the rule of law. The BMJ urges the international community to implement economic and trade sanctions, prosecute arms sales likely to be used for scholasticide violations, and encourage widespread boycott and divestment policies until compliance with international law is ensured. The article emphasizes that education is vital for knowledge production, identity, and health, and that holding perpetrators accountable is essential for a just and effective global order.",
  "summary": "Scholasticide—deliberate attacks on a society's education system in armed conflict—is a war crime that must be publicly condemned and its perpetrators held to account, insists an editorial published by The BMJ.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}