GAZA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Gazan students, without uniforms or textbooks, have recently returned to their shattered schools to resume their education, defying the overwhelming challenges imposed by the recent Israeli war.
Samed Ihab, a 13-year-old student from al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, is one of the hundreds who rushed back to their schools, hoping to find their desks intact. "Unfortunately, we found nothing but the remnants of classrooms and destroyed walls," Ihab told Xinhua, his school uniform lost during the multiple displacements his family endured during the conflict.
Despite the harsh conditions, Ihab believes education is the only way to overcome the hardships of life.
"I have made new friends who share the same resolve to continue our education, regardless of the circumstances. Education is our weapon against ignorance, and we believe knowledge can change the world," he said.
Despite all that, returning to school burdened Ihab emotionally. "I find many of my classmates no longer here. Some were killed by the Israeli army, and some were displaced to different parts of Gaza," he said.
On Sunday, Gaza's education authorities announced the start of the new school year, marking the first time classes have resumed since the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023.
In a press conference held in Gaza City, the education authorities confirmed that hundreds of thousands of students were attending classes in the ruins of their schools.
With more than 80 percent of schools destroyed, many students now learn in tents or makeshift educational points, according to the education authorities.
The authorities have also introduced online educational platforms for those unable to attend.
Ibrahim Abdel Rahman, a student from Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, expressed his frustration for not being able to return to school.
"I dreamed of returning to school to meet my friends and teachers, but the destruction of my school has made that impossible. Even online-learning is tough as we suffer constant internet outages. I fear losing my academic year or my education entirely if this situation persists," he told Xinhua.
Amina Hana, a Gaza-based Arabic teacher, said despite the destruction, her students have a strong desire to pursue study.
"We have learned from these children that education is not just an academic pursuit, but a form of resistance against the challenges they face," she said, adding, "Hope in their hearts is stronger than all the difficulties."
