Mon Jan 13 17:10:10 UTC 2025: ## Gaza’s Defiant Students: Education Under Siege

**Gaza City, Palestine –** Despite the near-total destruction of Gaza’s education system following Israel’s recent assault, Palestinian students are defiantly pursuing their studies, highlighting the crucial role of education in their national identity and resistance. The summer of 2024 saw the cancellation of the annual tawjihi high school exam for the first time since 1967, a stark symbol of the devastation.

The article details the harrowing experiences of students like Shahd, a multimedia student whose university was destroyed, and her brother Bilal, a medical student, who now risk their lives daily to access charging stations and internet access to continue their online studies. They are just two examples of the hundreds of thousands affected by the near-total collapse of Gaza’s educational infrastructure, with 88% of schools damaged or destroyed and all 12 universities in ruins.

This assault on education, termed “scholasticide” by Palestinian scholar Karma Nabulsi, is seen as a deliberate attempt to erase Palestinian identity and cultural continuity. The author draws parallels to the closures and curfews imposed during the first Intifada (1987-1993), when universities were shut down and students risked their lives to continue their studies in makeshift classrooms.

The situation is further exacerbated by Israel’s effective ban on UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for running numerous schools in Gaza and the West Bank. This action deals a severe blow to Palestine’s educational future.

Despite the immense challenges, the author emphasizes the unwavering determination of Palestinian students, mirroring the resilience described in Samih al-Qasem’s poem, “Enemy of the Sun.” The pursuit of education, the article argues, is not merely a personal aspiration, but a vital act of resistance against attempts to erase Palestinian history and identity. The students’ unwavering commitment serves as a powerful testament to their spirit and their enduring hope for liberation.

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