Shadi Salem is a Palestinian writer from Gaza. In 2017, he co-founded the Edward Said Public Library, Gaza’s first English language library, with poet Mosab Abu Toha. His first book, Beneath the Gaza Sky, is forthcoming.
In Gaza, where blood mixes with dirt and the cries of pain echo in every corner, part of the broader tragedy lies in the loss of the right to education. Israel has destroyed Gaza's education sector amid its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the Strip, leveling any hope of a brighter future for the coming generations. Education in Gaza is considered one of the cornerstones that enhance the Palestinian people's steadfastness and their resistance to Israel's illegal occupation. It is not just a means of acquiring knowledge, but a tool for survival.
The education sector has played a significant role in enhancing Palestinian identity, raising cultural and social awareness among Palestinian youth. There are 53 universities and community colleges in Palestine, with roughly 226,000 students as of 2023. That total includes 17 universities and colleges in the Gaza Strip, which serve approximately 87,000 students. These universities are considered beacons of knowledge, preserving Palestinian culture and identity while representing a point of hope for youth to achieve an academic and professional future despite their difficult circumstances.
However, with this genocide, destruction stole those dreams. Israel has destroyed 111 public schools in Gaza, severely damaging an additional 241. In total, the Global Education Cluster estimates that 95.2 percent of Gaza's schools have sustained some damage, with 88.5 percent requiring complete or major rehabilitation. These impacts seriously affect the quality of education, fundamentally altering the development of hundreds of thousands of children.
Israel claims many of the schools are safe while regularly and directly targeting them. The continuous destruction has made it difficult for younger generations to aspire to an outstanding academic future. There is no suitable educational environment, let alone a safe place to study.
Students were the first to pay the price amid this devastation. Israel has killed at least 15,000 children and injured 26,000 more. Recent UN reporting suggests upward of 50,000 total child casualties as a result of Isreal's military operations. An estimated 660,000 students are deprived of their education today. Further, Israel has killed over 880 teachers and staff members in Gaza's education sector. These teachers—the soul of the system—were martyred while trying to provide education during these disastrous times. Israel has killed an additional 150 university professors and researchers—individuals representing and sustaining Gaza's robust intellectual creativity.
Genocide and ethnic cleansing have not only stolen daily life—they have had lasting psychological effects, including on parents trying to support their children's development.
Shadi SAlem
I am one of those individuals whose dreams were stolen. As a student in the early stages of my master's thesis, this journey came to a halt when the war began. I was excited to finish my thesis and start searching for a scholarship in pursuit of my doctorate—a personal dream. But the war robbed me of this opportunity, alongside many others who were hoping to build their future through education.
Families have been deeply affected by Gaza's destruction and loss of education. Those striving to provide a stable educational environment for their children now find themselves facing immense psychological pressure due to their constant bombardment and forced displacement. Genocide and ethnic cleansing have not only stolen daily life—they have had lasting psychological effects, including on parents trying to support their children's development. In the face of Israeli shelling and continuous displacement, it has become impossible for families to sustain this focus. This dynamic reflects a stark reality: It is not only the loss of educational opportunities but the loss of the sense of security and stability that harms learning.
Now, students who are supposed to attend school and continue their studies bear enormous responsibilities far beyond their years. Survival replaces education, with many youths now working in markets and streets or standing in queues at soup kitchens to receive meager food and water rations. In some cases, they have become the primary provider for their families after Israeli military actions killed their loved ones.
When I can contact my friends and relatives in Gaza, I advise them to keep educating their children, despite the difficult circumstances. I specifically mention my wife in these conversations, especially regarding my son Hamoud, who was supposed to start kindergarten—a foundational stage for a child. But due to continuous shelling and displacement, my wife could not follow through with his education. The enormous psychological pressure caused by the war and ongoing stress due to security issues made it impossible for her to focus on educating our son. This is the case for many families in Gaza. Families living in a constant state of fear and anxiety cannot bear the burden of educating their children in these difficult times, nor can they provide a safe and stable educational environment. This reality jeopardizes the next generation's future.
Despite these obstacles, education in Gaza remains the best tool for resisting the occupation. It is not simply an academic process, but a fundamental pillar of Palestinian survival and the preservation of our cultural identity. Under difficult conditions, students in Gaza continue to pursue knowledge when possible because education is not only a means to acquire knowledge, but a tool to maintain our existence and safeguard our identity. Despite Israel's ongoing attempts to erase this identity, education in Gaza is once again proving a vital element in building a generation capable of leading the Palestinian resistance in all areas—whether cultural, social or political.
But this is not enough. If education in Gaza is the only hope for survival, it urgently needs local and international support. There is an urgent need for flexible and innovative educational systems that can adapt to the conditions of war and ensure continuity, whether through online platforms or creative programs. The schools that have survived need immediate rehabilitation. Thus, international organizations must provide the necessary support to rebuild Gaza's schools and universities, providing regular educational aid. They should also contribute equipment to enable remote learning. This effort must prioritize a safe and sustainable educational environment that permits children to learn and grow under difficult and regularly evolving circumstances.
Education in Gaza represents hope for a better future—despite the genocide. It is the weapon with which the Palestinian people confront Israel's attempts to destroy their identity. It is the path they continue to walk despite the storm attempting to shatter their dreams. Ultimately, rebuilding the education sector in Gaza is more than rebuilding schools and universities. It is the process of building an entire generation of youth capable of continuing the journey toward liberation and freedom.
