00:02Six-year-old Wurud has been saving this bag for her first day at school.
00:07I am very happy, she says. I will go to my school and I will have friends.
00:12For most of her childhood, Wurud has only known war.
00:15But today she joins more than half a million young Gazans returning to the classroom
00:20after three years without any formal education.
00:24Ibtissam has been raising Wurud alone since her husband was killed in an attack during the ceasefire.
00:31She is terrified, Ibtissam says. Can you imagine your daughter waking up at night scared of the bombing?
00:37Since Hamas' October 7th attacks in 2023 sparked Israel's war on Gaza,
00:43an estimated 660,000 students have gone without regular schooling.
00:47And nearly 98% of school buildings in Gaza have been damaged.
00:53Teachers say they lack educational resources and pupils are without the basics,
00:57like pens, notebooks, bags or books.
01:00Some are holding classes in makeshift tents.
01:03The children's biggest concern is finding water.
01:06They're not focused on education.
01:08We try as much as possible to keep them organised.
01:12Although efforts are being made to restore normality and routine,
01:15some children still miss out.
01:17Like Bilal, whose specialised school hasn't reopened.
01:21I didn't want to deprive him of joy, his mum says.
01:24I bought him new clothes and made it feel like he was starting the school year.
01:28A key milestone that many in Gaza have had to go without.
01:31I want to stop.
01:32I won't stop.
01:32I'll stop.
01:32I'll stop.
01:32My day is in Canada.
01:33I will stop.
01:33The first free time has made it to be home.
01:34I will stop.
01:35You'll see us.
01:35You'll see us.
