Children in Gaza face an uncertain future as war and destruction leave classrooms empty and pupils displaced.

As the war in Gaza rages on, the toll on education has been devastating, leaving thousands of children with no access to schooling. Mohammad Mosa, a 14-year-old student who fled his home in October, had hoped to continue his studies online amidst the airstrikes, packing his laptop in a desperate attempt to stay connected. But two months later, his education has come to a halt. Instead of attending classes, he has learned to bake bread over an open fire, a necessary skill in a city under siege.

Before the escalation of hostilities, Gaza had approximately 625,000 school-age children, but now, none of them are able to attend school. The ongoing violence, with its intense bombardment and widespread destruction, has rendered it impossible for students and teachers to continue their work. Buildings have been destroyed, and civilians, including educators, have been uprooted from their homes, further compounding the crisis.

Jonathan Crick, a spokesperson for UNICEF in Jerusalem, described the situation as dire, stating that “there is absolutely no form of education or schooling in the Gaza Strip at the moment.” The absence of education has cast a dark shadow over the future of Gaza’s children, with no clear timeline for when schools will be able to reopen and classes resume.