Teaching

How to Talk About the Israel-Hamas War: Resources for Educators

By Lauraine Langreo — October 09, 2023 | Updated: October 13, 2023 5 min read
Map of Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Updated: This story has been updated to reflect recent developments in Israel and Gaza.

Soon after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel earlier this month, the San Diego County Office of Education released a memo with a list of resources that educators and parents can use to help young children and adolescents think and talk about this international crisis. The Associated Press reported that the violence had caused at least 2,800 deaths on both sides as of Oct. 13 and unleashed some of the greatest violence the region has seen in years.

“California is home to students and staff with cultural ties to Israel and Palestine, and has seen a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents even before the outbreak of war,” according to the Oct. 7 memo. “As educators, we must make sure we provide a safe space for all members of our community to learn about current events and process their emotions.”

Other school district leaders are taking similar steps to help their communities process the Hamas attack and the ensuing Israeli response.

“It is heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent civilians, especially our most vulnerable—children,” tweeted New York City schools’ Chancellor David C. Banks. He added that his district will be “providing resources to our schools to facilitate discussions about the conflict and supporting our students in being compassionate global citizens.”

Fred Rundle, the superintendent of Mercer Island school district in Washington state, sent out an Oct.9 memo providing resources for educators and parents to use to discuss the crisis with their students and children.

“Our hearts are with our students, staff, and families impacted by the horrific events in Israel and Gaza,” Rundle wrote. “This is a scary and emotional time, especially for our Mercer Island community who is so connected to this part of the world.”

On Oct. 7, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that has governed more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 2006, launched its largest surprise attack ever on Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war. While Hamas has governed the territory since 2006, dozens of countries label it a terrorist organization, and it receives substantial support from Iran, according to the Council of Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think tank.

Israel responded with airstrikes on cities in the Palestinian territory, and Hamas has continued to fire rockets into Israel.

Israel has blocked deliveries of food, water, and fuel, and shut down electricity to the Gaza Strip. On Oct. 13, Israel’s military ordered more than a million civilians living in northern Gaza to evacuate, a possible precursor to a ground invasion. Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border since the Hamas’ attack, and on Oct. 13, they entered the border to battle militants, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in a millennia-old territorial dispute over the Holy Land, a region in the Middle East with religious and historical significance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Israel and Hamas have exchanged attacks for decades. For instance, in May 2021, an Israeli police raid on the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem set off an 11-day war between the two. This weekend’s attack took place on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, when a coalition of Arab states attacked Israel, and just before the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

To help educators explain the conflict and guide students in how to talk about emotionally charged, violent events like this in measured, respectful ways, Education Week has collected several resources. Those resources are intended to help students understand historical context, process current events, and use media literacy skills to analyze news coverage and social media responses and misinformation about the conflict.

Video: How Teachers Can Talk About Hard Things With Students

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Accelerate Reading Growth in Grades 6 and Beyond
Looking for a proven solution for struggling readers in grades 6 and up? Join our webinar to learn about a powerful intervention that transforms struggling readers into engaged learners.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Support Your Newest Teachers with Personalized PD & Coaching
Discover steps you can take to strengthen new teacher support and build long-term capacity in your district.
Content provided by BetterLesson
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
Smartphones and Social Media: Building Policies for Safe Technology Use in Schools
Smartphones and social media are ever present with today’s students. Join this conversation on navigating the challenges and tailoring policy.
Content provided by Panorama Education

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Opinion 10 Actions Teachers Can Take Now That Trump Is President
On Day 1 of his second term, Trump issued orders that could negatively affect students. Here’s how to support them.
4 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Spotlight Spotlight on PreK-12 Problem-Based Learning
This Spotlight will help you learn how to prepare students for the workforce, partner with students on sustainability initiatives, and more.
Teaching Opinion How Teachers Can Care for Their Students and Themselves This Year (Downloadable)
A veteran teacher suggests 8 essential practices to benefit everyone in the classroom.
Justin Parmenter
1 min read
Education and Learning icons in the classroom or online. Idea knowledge of innovative technology, science, and mathematics.
iStock/Getty Images + Education Week
Teaching Opinion Student Motivation Is a Perennial Concern. What Are We Missing?
Even if we want to achieve a goal, there are reasons why we don't. This can explain what's happening with students.
5 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week