In the shattered city of Khan Younis, Sama, Abdullah and Nada Musa discovered their Tawjihi exam results on July 24, revealing their names among the highest scorers. Achieving 97.5 percent, 94.6 percent, and 94.4 percent respectively, the three siblings demonstrated their potential to thrive despite the war that has turned their lives into a cycle of danger and struggle. Their accomplishments followed months of focused effort and unwavering commitment, even as the air was filled with explosions and the streets of Gaza lay in ruins.
The Musa family home in southern Gaza, like many others, bore the scars of relentless attacks. Nonetheless, the siblings remained dedicated to their studies. Sama, who secured the highest marks among the three, described the year as "exceptional and difficult." He acknowledged the support of his family and teachers in helping him concentrate on success. Amid fear and uncertainty, the Musa siblings found comfort in the pursuit of knowledge.
Family Support and Challenges
Abdullah and Nada, who both have physical disabilities, faced added challenges. Private lessons were not feasible, so their family arranged for teachers to visit them at home. Their mother, Hind Muhanna, had spent years providing the care and encouragement necessary for them to succeed. Her efforts bore fruit as both Abdullah and Nada passed their exams with outstanding results. Muhanna expressed pride in her children’s achievements, emphasizing their hard work and resilience, even when the challenges seemed insurmountable.
Nada Musa praised her parents for instilling the confidence needed to push through the war's many challenges. Her comments highlighted the critical role family support played in a time when education in Gaza had become a daily struggle. The ongoing conflict has disrupted regular schooling, with many students forced to study in makeshift classrooms or through online means.
Amjad Barham, the Palestinian Minister of Education, stated that this year, approximately 89,000 students from the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip took part in the Tawjihi. In addition, another 2,000 students completed the exams in 46 other countries. Over the past three years, more than 106,000 students in Gaza have attempted the exams, with 36,900 students participating in 2026 alone. These figures illustrate the determination of Palestinian students, many of whom have studied under conditions that few can comprehend.
Impact of War on Education
Nevertheless, the conflict has caused massive damage to students. The United Nations reported in November, following a temporary pause in hostilities, that more than 97 percent of schools in Gaza have been damaged or completely destroyed in the last two years. Almost 92 percent of educational facilities now need complete reconstruction or major repairs to be usable again. The report also warned that the educational system in Gaza was nearing a point of complete collapse, with most schools functioning only partially. Learning resources like textbooks, computers, and essential tools have become extremely scarce, and many educators have left the region due to the ongoing dangers.
Despite the devastation, educators such as Hanaa al-Sayed continued their teaching duties. In Deir el-Balah, a central Gaza city, al-Sayed led math lessons for Tawjihi students at an educational center. Many of her students had lost their loved ones and homes due to the war. The emotional and psychological weight they carried into the classroom was evident, but al-Sayed dedicated herself to providing both academic and emotional support.
Resilience of Educators and Students
At the makeshift school, which also served as a shelter for displaced people, students studied on mats, without desks or chairs. The space was shared between Tawjihi students and displaced families, yet al-Sayed insisted on maintaining education. She described the experience as difficult but deeply meaningful. Her commitment to her students' emotional well-being, alongside their academic progress, demonstrated the vital role teachers have played in keeping the educational system alive during the conflict.
Their perseverance, their high scores, and their ability to endure — these are not simply exam results. They represent a form of resistance. They are proof of something the war seeks to erase. In the face of overwhelming adversity, Sama, Abdullah, and Nada Musa proved that the pursuit of knowledge can endure even the most violent of conflicts.