Islamic University of Gaza Resumes Classes Amid Conflict
Islamic University of Gaza Reopens Amidst Devastation and Displacement
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Gaza City – Students at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) have cautiously returned to in-person classes for the first time in two years,marking a fragile step towards normalcy amidst a landscape irrevocably altered by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.The university, once a beacon of learning, now serves as a refuge for hundreds of displaced families, its buildings bearing the scars of intense bombardment and destruction.This return to learning, however limited, represents a powerful act of resilience in the face of what many are calling a deliberate attack on Palestinian education.
The Scale of the Destruction
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has inflicted catastrophic damage on Gaza’s infrastructure, and its education system has been particularly hard hit.UNESCO estimates that over 95% of higher education campuses across Gaza have been severely damaged or destroyed. The Islamic University of Gaza is no exception.Buildings have been reduced to hollow shells, lecture halls replaced by makeshift tents housing displaced families.
Here’s a breakdown of the reported damage to educational facilities in Gaza (data as of December 2023/January 2024 – figures are constantly evolving):
| Type of Educational Facility | Number Affected | Percentage Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Universities | 8 | 100% |
| Schools | 266 | 76% |
| Vocational Training Centers | 64 | 82% |
| Kindergartens | 320 | 46% |
Source: UNESCO, UNRWA, Palestinian Ministry of Education
The situation at IUG vividly illustrates this devastation. Approximately 500 displaced families are currently sheltering within the university’s remaining structures, turning a place of learning into a temporary, and inadequate, home.This dual crisis – homelessness and educational collapse – presents immense challenges for both students and the university governance.
Voices from the Campus
The return to classes, even in these dire circumstances, offers a glimmer of hope. However, the reality on the ground is far from ideal.
“We came here after being displaced from Jabalia because we had nowhere else to go,” said Atta Siam, a displaced resident seeking refuge on campus. “But this place is for education. Its not meant to be a shelter – it’s a place for our children to study.”
First-year medical student youmna Albaba expressed her longing for a proper learning environment. “I need a place where I can focus, that is fully qualified in every way,” she said. “But I haven’t found what I imagined here.Still, I have hope because we are building everything from scratch.”
These testimonies underscore the profound disruption to students’ lives and the immense obstacles they face in pursuing their education. The lack of adequate facilities, resources, and a stable environment hinders their ability to learn and thrive.
Scholasticide: A Deliberate Targeting of Education?
Human rights groups and United Nations experts have raised serious concerns about what they term “scholasticide” – the systematic destruction of an education system. They argue that the scale and scope of the damage to educational facilities in Gaza suggest a deliberate targeting of education, a potential war crime under international law.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Farida Shaheed, has stated that the attacks on schools and universities in Gaza are “not merely collateral damage” but appear to be part of a broader strategy to undermine