Back to school in Gaza: Learning in tents after years of disruption

Gaza City – Early on Saturday morning, Rana Totah held her two sons’ hands as she walked them to school in al-Katiba, Gaza City, watching them return to a routine they had almost forgotten.For Totah, 30, the morning was more than the first day of a new school year. It was a return to family life interrupted by nearly three years of war and displacement after Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Private schools become a costly choice for struggling parents in Gazalist 2 of 4Israeli ‘double-tap’ air strike responsible for killing schoolboy in Gazalist 3 of 4For checkpoint and settler attack news, Palestinians tune into the radiolist 4 of 4Lacking equipment, but not ambition: Gaza students try to keep up with techend of listDisplaced from Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood to al-Katiba in western Gaza City, Totah spent the previous night preparing her children for their first day back in face-to-face education.She made sure they slept early the night before, then woke them, dressed them and brought them to school.“Honestly, today was a beautiful day for me. It even felt like Eid,” Totah told Al Jazeera. “I prepared my childr...