Gaza students overcome Israel’s genocide to mark Tawjihi results

What Happened

On July 24, Tawjihi (high school) examination results were announced for the approximately 89,000 students in the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip who sat the exams, according to Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham. In Khan Younis, three siblings from the Musa family — Sama, Abdullah, and Nada — earned scores of 97.5%, 94.6%, and 94.4% respectively, having overcome displacement, physical disabilities, and the collapse of educational infrastructure during the ongoing war. The minister reported that 1,100 students who were due to take the exams this year were killed. The United Nations has stated that over 97% of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed and that 92% of education facilities require full reconstruction or major rehabilitation. Teacher Hanaa al-Sayed described holding mathematics classes in a Deir el-Balah school that also served as a displacement shelter, where she prioritized psychological support alongside academics.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The story highlights the systematic destruction of Gaza’s education system during the war and the extraordinary resilience of students and teachers who continue learning amid displacement, trauma, and infrastructure collapse. The long-term consequences for an entire generation of Palestinians include disrupted academic development, psychological distress, and diminished prospects for post-conflict recovery, which could fuel further instability and recruitment cycles.

Watch For

International donor pledges and UN appeals to fund school reconstruction and psychosocial support programs; Palestinian Authority and UNRWA announcements on the feasibility of starting the new academic year; and the impact of school destruction on university enrollment and youth employment in Gaza.