Gaza(The COW News Digital)For the first time in two years, academic activity has formally resumed at the Islamic University of Gaza, marking a significant step toward recovery in a territory devastated by war. The university has reopened partially restored classrooms inside buildings badly damaged during Israeli bombardments, allowing medical and health sciences students to return for in-person learning.
During the conflict, the university’s infrastructure suffered extensive destruction, with several blocks reduced to rubble. Despite these challenges, faculty members and students gathered this week in cracked-wall lecture rooms to restart their coursework. The return has brought a sense of hope to Gaza’s academic community, which has long struggled to rebuild amid ongoing humanitarian hardship.
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Educational activities across Gaza remained suspended for nearly two years. Even online classes were largely impossible due to repeated displacement, widespread electricity outages, and the collapse of communication systems. According to Palestinian authorities, the broader education sector experienced devastating losses, with 165 institutions completely destroyed and another 392 partially damaged.
The Islamic University’s campus continues to serve as a shelter for families who lost their homes in the war. Many classrooms and hallways are still occupied by displaced residents, underscoring the dual pressures faced by academic institutions attempting to function amid a prolonged humanitarian crisis. University officials have urged local and international authorities to arrange immediate alternative housing for affected families so that teaching activities can continue without interruption.
Calling the reopening “a historic day,” the university president praised students for their resilience and determination. He noted that the gradual restoration of academic programs reflects not only administrative efforts but also the unwavering commitment of Palestinian youth to education, dignity, and hope. “Our students have shown that even under the harshest circumstances, the pursuit of knowledge cannot be extinguished,” he said.
The return of face-to-face classes is being viewed by many in Gaza as a symbol of renewal, though significant challenges remain. Reconstruction of the education system will require substantial resources, sustained support, and improved security conditions. Nevertheless, the reopening of Gaza’s oldest and most prominent university offers a glimpse of optimism in a place where daily life has been defined by loss and uncertainty.
