GAZA – The Islamic University of Gaza on Tuesday took the first steps toward reopening its campus for in-person learning despite extensive damage from Israeli air strikes that left parts of its buildings in ruins.
The students returned to the classrooms in a resilient display of determination to continue their education after a two-year hiatus due to the conflict.
Hundreds of students attended classes in partially restored buildings, with cracked walls and damaged infrastructure bearing the marks of the recent war. Saturday marked the first day of face-to-face instruction since the conflict halted academic activities, during which limited online education was conducted amid displacement, electricity shortages, and damaged facilities.
The students expressed relief and pride at being able to return.
Sama Radi, another student, echoed the sentiment: “This is the first day of face-to-face lectures since the conflict. Despite the destruction, we are back in classrooms. I am proud of my country and my university for rising stronger than before.”
Malak al-Moqayad, a medical student, said, “After the war, we are attending classes physically for the first time. The university has restored the building despite the damage, and it feels wonderful to continue learning in person.”
Since October 2023, over 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza, and much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble, displacing nearly the entire population.
Islamic University President Asaad Yousef Asaad described the reopening as a historic moment. “Today is a historic day. Despite the tragedy and devastation, we are returning to education,” an international news agency reported.
He highlighted the resilience of Palestinians and their enduring commitment to learning, noting that students from the faculties of medicine and health sciences have already resumed classes.
Asaad said a phased plan for a full return to campus is being implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. During the conflict, the university relied heavily on online learning, graduating 4,000 students remotely, while new admissions are now beginning in-person for the first time since October 2023.
According to the Gaza Media Office, the war destroyed 165 educational institutions including schools and universities while 392 others sustained partial damage, severely impacting Gaza’s education sector.
Many university buildings are also serving as temporary shelters for families whose homes were destroyed, prompting the administration to call on authorities for urgent housing solutions. The estimates suggested that around 300,000 tents and prefabricated units are required to address the enclave’s immediate shelter needs.
