Teacher's Resilience Amidst War: Educating Gaza's Children in the Rubble

Gaza's schools are in ruins due to the ongoing conflict, but teacher Israa Abu Mustafa is determined to keep educating traumatized children. Despite losing her home, she set up a makeshift school under a tent, providing lessons to kids amidst the chaos and destruction.

Gaza's schools lie in ruins or serve as shelters for displaced families in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Yet, teacher Israa Abu Mustafa refuses to let death and destruction deprive traumatized children of their education.

After her four-storey building was demolished by an Israeli air strike, Abu Mustafa set up a makeshift classroom on the rubble under a tent. Her improvisational school is one of the few educational options left for children in the devastated neighborhood.

“During the war, we had to fill water gallons and collect sticks for firewood. Then Miss Israa found us and brought us here to continue learning,” said 10-year-old Hala Abu Mustafa. What started with 35 pupils has grown to 70 children, ranging from pre-school to sixth grade.