Children Return to Gaza Schools After Three Years of War
Many students have returned without basic educational supplies, including notebooks and pens, but the reopening marks an effort to restore formal learning after years of disruption.
The voices of children are once again being heard in schools across Gaza as thousands return to classrooms after nearly three years of war severely disrupted education across the Palestinian territory.
Classes have resumed in difficult conditions. Some children are studying inside damaged school buildings, while elsewhere tents and temporary spaces are being used as makeshift classrooms.
Many students have returned without basic educational supplies, including notebooks and pens, but the reopening marks an effort to restore formal learning after years of disruption.
Gaza’s Education System Devastated by War
According to UNICEF, the vast majority of schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, while around 650,000 school-age children have been deprived of regular education.
School buildings have also served as shelters for displaced Palestinian families during the conflict, further limiting their ability to function as educational facilities.
The destruction of educational infrastructure, repeated displacement of families and shortages of essential supplies have left children with prolonged interruptions to their schooling.
Classes Resume Amid Widespread Destruction
For children returning to school, classrooms look significantly different from those they left behind. Some are studying in partially damaged buildings, while temporary learning spaces have been established where schools are no longer usable.
The return to education comes after years in which Gaza’s children have faced displacement, loss of family members and prolonged disruption to their daily lives.
Restoring education is expected to remain a major challenge as Gaza deals with damaged infrastructure and the need to rebuild schools and other essential services.
Nearly Three Years of Conflict
The latest war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in Gaza. Palestinian health authorities have reported that the Palestinian death toll has reached around 70,000, with more than 115,000 people wounded. The figures reported by authorities in Gaza do not generally distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The conflict has caused widespread destruction and displacement across Gaza, leaving the restoration of schools and other basic services a major part of the territory’s recovery.
