In Gaza City, the sound of children learning can be heard once again. The tents that now serve as classrooms are noisy and a little chaotic but lively. Some teachers point to boards covered in English letters; others invite pupils to come forward and write basic Arabic words.
It is nowhere near a normal school day. But after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in October, it's a start.
After two years of war, the hum of lessons and chatter of classmates resonates around the ruins of what was once Lulwa Abdel Wahab al-Qatami School, in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in the south-western part of Gaza City.
This school, battered by conflict, has found a way to return to its original purpose, providing education to children who desperately need it. Walking in a straight line, their small arms resting on each other's shoulders, pupils smile as they head into the makeshift classrooms; for many, this is their first return to routine and education since the war began.
According to Unicef, over 97% of schools in Gaza were damaged or destroyed during the war. Of the Strip's 658,000 school-aged children, most have had no formal education for nearly two years. During that time, many learned firsthand how hunger, displacement, and death can shape their young lives. But now, something rare is emerging: a fragile glimpse of the childhoods they once knew.
Fourteen-year-old Naeem al-Asmaar, who lost his mother to an airstrike, expresses relief in returning to school, despite the challenges.
Before the war, school was in real classrooms; now it's tents. We only study four subjects. The education is not the same - but being here matters. School fills all my time, and I really needed that, he says.
The makeshift school, operated by Unicef, brings together children displaced during the war. It does not fully teach the Palestinian curriculum but includes basic subjects of Arabic, English, mathematics, and science.
Dr. Mohammed Saeed Schheiber, the principal, laments the lack of resources. Before the war, students learned in fully equipped schools; all of that is gone. There is no electricity, no internet, and many children are struggling with trauma.
The school's facilities cater to 1,100 children, operating in three shifts, emphasizing the importance of education as a foundational pillar for the future of these children. However, the demand for resources continues to outstrip what is available.
For parents, the return to school brings mixed sentiments of relief and anxiety. Huda Bassam al-Dasouki, a displaced mother, states that educational supplies have become scarce and expensive, exacerbating the difficulties of continuing education in a time of crisis.
As the children of Gaza begin to reclaim their right to education, their resilience shines through, serving as a beacon of hope amidst the rubble of conflict.
