Name: Students dreams are still alive as classes resume in Gaza
Uploaded: 2025-12-20T10:40:08.258Z
Duration: 2 min 45 s
Description: The Islamic University of Gaza has resumed in-person classes for the first time in two years. What was once one of the largest universities in the Strip, is now a site of displacement and destruction.

The Islamic University of Gaza has resumed in-person classes for the first time in two years. What was once one of the largest universities in the Strip, is now a site of displacement and destruction.

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The Islamic University of Gaza, once a major educational institution, now serves as both a shelter for displaced families and a site for resumed classes following two years of conflict. According to UNESCO, over 95% of higher education campuses in Gaza have been severely damaged or destroyed since October 7th, leaving students and faculty to adapt to makeshift learning environments.

Despite the devastation, hundreds of students have returned to classrooms, and faculty have improvised with plastic sheets and borrowed generators to continue teaching. The partial resumption of classes has renewed hope among students, who remain determined to pursue their education despite ongoing challenges such as power cuts, equipment shortages, and limited facilities.

Students' dreams are still alive as classes resume in Gaza

What was once one of the largest universities of Gaza is now a site of displacement and destruction. Let's get inside and see how the educational process looks like after two years of war. Destruction and tents are immediately visible on entering the Islamic University of Gaza. Every building on campus has been left a hollow shell by Israel's wall on the strip. Around 500 displaced families are taking shelter inside the campus buildings and grounds. The reason we came to this place is that we were displaced from Jabalia. When they find a solution for us, we'll return, as this place is for education. It's not a shelter or residence for us or anyone else. UNESCO estimates that over 95% of higher education campuses in the Gaza Strip have been severely damaged or fully destroyed since October the 7th. When the cracked walls and windows are tapped with nylon, hundreds of students return to their classrooms. After two years of war, a scene reflects the determination of Gazans to reclaim their life and their education despite the scars of the war. The partial resumption of classes has revived the ambitions of thousands of students. First-year medical student Yumna is chasing her dream of becoming a doctor despite the lack of proper educational facilities. I wish to go to a well-equipped university like the ones around the world. Yet, despite all this, I still have hope and I'm happy because I attend the lectures in person and I'm glad that we're building everything from scratch. Professors face numerous challenges, including power cuts, shortages of equipment and inadequate learning environments. We're trying. We've covered some exposed walls with plastic sheets in an attempt to accommodate for the biggest number of students possible. We've borrowed motors to generate electricity to operate the university equipment. With lectures being held in only four classrooms, thousands of students are relying on such basic attempts to revive education and they are making the most out of what they are being given. Muadhil Kahloot Al-Jazeera, from Gaza City, Palestine.

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Students' dreams are still alive as classes resume in Gaza

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