Gaza Children Return to Classes in Tents and Ruins After Three-Year Absence

Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza returned to in-person classes on Saturday, marking the first return to physical classrooms in nearly three years. Students filed into damaged buildings, makeshift classrooms, and tents as local authorities attempt to restart the academic year.

The scale of the disruption is stark. UNICEF reports that 98 percent of schools in the territory were destroyed or damaged during the war. Local education officials estimate that 660,000 students have been deprived of regular classroom instruction. The conflict has also claimed the lives of about 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers.

The Ministry of Education, supported by aid agencies, has erected dozens of temporary schools using tarpaulins, sheet metal, and wood. Classes operate in severely cramped conditions where basic supplies like notebooks, pens, and proper shoes are scarce. Israeli import restrictions have driven stationery prices up fivefold, leaving many families unable to afford materials that were once inexpensive.

Students describe a difficult return to routine. “The last time I have been to school was three years ago,” said Moayed Abu Mustafa in Khan Younis. “Now, we are starting the school year; it is year of joy, happiness and success. Despite all of this, we will learn, we will learn even in a tent.” Fifteen-year-old Samar Abu Salmi noted that her family cannot afford supplies anymore. “We studied on phones, and we haven’t seen our teachers. Now, we are back pursuing our dream … from one tent to another,” she said.

An October 2025 ceasefire halted large-scale fighting but left the underlying conflict unresolved. Israeli forces continue to control more than 60 percent of the territory, complicating efforts to fully restore the education system. Aid groups and officials emphasize that rebuilding schools and restoring safe learning environments will require sustained access and resources.