The new school year in Gaza began under grim circumstances on Monday, with all schools closed due to 11 months of relentless war and no signs of a ceasefire. As the fighting raged on, Israel issued new evacuation orders for northern Gaza residents in response to rocket fire from the territory.
Umm Zaki, a mother of five, recounted how her son Moataz, who was supposed to start 10th grade, instead woke up in a tent in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah and had to fetch water from over a kilometer away. “Usually, this would be a day of celebration, seeing the children in their new uniforms, dreaming of becoming doctors and engineers,” she said. “Today, all we hope is for the war to end before we lose any of them.”
The Palestinian Education Ministry reported that all schools in Gaza remained shut, with 90% of them damaged or destroyed in Israel’s ongoing offensive, launched after Hamas’ attack on Israeli towns last October. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, has converted many of Gaza’s schools into emergency shelters for displaced families.
Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, expressed concern about the long-term impact on Gaza’s children, warning of a “lost generation” vulnerable to exploitation, including child marriage, labor, and recruitment into armed groups. More than 625,000 students are currently missing school, alongside 58,000 six-year-olds who should have started first grade this year.
In an effort to support children’s mental health, UNRWA launched a back-to-learning program in 45 of its shelters, offering activities such as games, drama, arts, music, and sports.
Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times. In the latest evacuation notice, Israel warned residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes due to continued rocket fire. The Israeli military reiterated that the area was considered a “dangerous combat zone.”
The United Nations is also urging residents to have their children vaccinated against polio amidst the violence, following Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. A campaign targeting 640,000 children is underway, with 450,000 vaccinated as of Monday.
The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, has so far claimed over 40,900 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Both sides continue to accuse one another of obstructing ceasefire negotiations that could potentially end the violence and secure the release of hostages.