Wurud Mughrabi, wearing a denim outfit and carrying a new pink mermaid bag, was among the children who returned to school last week after three years without regular in-person teaching. Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza, more than 625,000 students have been unable to attend classes.
Wurud's mother, Ibtisam Mughrabi, who was wounded during the war and lost her husband in an air strike during the most recent ceasefire, said she was grateful her daughter could finally go to school but remained fearful. "To be honest, the war did not end, at all, and I am concerned that, God forbid, something will happen during school," she told the ABC. "In spite of that, I am a big fan of education."
The school in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has reverted to its original function as an education centre after housing displaced families. In the playground, tents still stand as a reminder that conflict is ongoing. On the same morning as the school reopening, Gazan officials reported that a 10-year-old was killed by Israeli army fire near the camp.
More than 64,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in Gaza since October 7, according to UNICEF. With desks damaged and supplies like pens and notebooks hard to come by, the return to school is a fragile step toward normality. Parents lingered in doorways watching their children, smiling as teachers used blackboards in makeshift classrooms.
Despite the challenges, Ibtisam expressed a bittersweet joy. "I would have liked him to see her on this day," she said of her late husband, adding that her happiness was not complete without him.