TEHRAN -- Zionist forces have martyred at least 354 Palestinian children since the start of the second Intifada (uprising) in September 2000 while 7,652 children sustained wounds and 850 schools were closed.

The Palestinian Education Ministry stated in a report on Saturday that at least 354 boy and girl students had been martyred by Zionist troopers either on their way to school, during classes, in funeral processions of other martyrs, or in their homes.

While humanitarian organizations have banned the use of firearms against civilians, Tel Aviv forces have targeted Palestinian students, shooting them in their heads, chests, and backs inflicting fatal wounds on them.

The report noted that out of the 7,652 wounded Palestinian children, a considerable number of them have sustained lifetime wounds, turning them into handicaps.

By creating obstacles and roadblocks along the West Bank and making problems for the Palestinian educational programs 850 schools have been practically closed.

In a related matter 197 schools in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been riddled by Zionist fire and occupied by Tel Aviv troopers while students were still in classes.

Zionist forces even turned 25 schools into detention quarters in 25 Palestinian cities during the massive attacks last year, while four schools in Al-Khalil in the West Bank were used as military barricades.

In the meantime, under the false pretext of security precautions Zionist forces restrict teachers from going to schools limiting some %90 of the teachers on some days.

The same measure is exercised against the students and many of them are denied access to school on numerous days of the year.

Due to the restrictions university students of the Gaza Strip who study in the West Bank have doubts that the Zionist forces will grant permission to them to return home in the evening.

The report mentioned a student resident of Gaza Strip who has not been home to see the family in two years due to fear of not being allowed to return to the West Bank once he leaves it.

Palestinian officials claim that the measures taken by Zionist forces against Palestinian children and students are meant to stop them from obtaining knowledge and education and at the same time humiliate the Palestinian nation.

One million Palestinian boys and girls live in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.