The story of a book in Gaza: A treasured possession given new lease of life

Aya al-Shawa, 10, sits in sixth grade at a school in northern Gaza, holding a book she recently received and what is now one of her most treasured possessions.Before it reached Aya’s hands, it had a difficult journey. It once sat on a bookshelf before an Israeli attack demolished the building it was housed in, leaving it buried beneath the rubble. Then one day someone recovered it, cleaned it, sorted its pages and repaired them. The book then found its way to a new reader.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How can Jordan respond to Israel’s escalation across the West Bank?list 2 of 4Israeli air attack on residential apartment in Gaza kills 5 Palestinianslist 3 of 4Funeral held at Gaza church for mother and daughter killed in Gaza strikelist 4 of 4Gaza’s Christians mourn mother and daughter killed in Israeli attackend of listAmid the widespread destruction in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, books – one of the most vulnerable of all items – have become a rare commodity.About 98 percent of school buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged, according to UNICEF.With approximately 700,000 children in Gaza deprived of regular in-person education since the war be...