![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZF5CPP4PHUXHIXWQLMWGXJEHPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c06594e0b109d4297f7c5388cea70026ea68c8336634d7f34b8a5affe41c6a0c&width=400&height=225)
But life goes on and most of the school pupils seem relieved to return to the classroom to resume their education. AP Photo
Al Zaitoun Preparatory Girls' School in Gaza City was badly damaged in the conflict that broke out May this year. Rosie Scammell / The National
Pupils have now returned after reconstruction work and here a teacher gives a lesson to a packed classroom. Rosie Scammell / The National
A wall which was damaged by air strikes during the 11-day war between Gaza and Israel. Rosie Scammell / The National
The damage was cleaned up before lessons started up again at the school. Rosie Scammell / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJCOQ5XFHZJFHKSR3C4EIPU2BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7267a5d406d3608ae3b09934e69481e68e37ff0cd108b7a8437d6552e766af9d&width=400&height=225)
On the first day of the new academic year in Gaza City, Palestinian pupils inspect a classroom that was damaged by sir strikes. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RXS3QYRV3BNIPPFANSI7MJU3ZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=88f8e321f6277dc64eaaac7b3c94ed960c979e68499680a829e6fe52e06b5f89&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian girls walk among the heavily damaged buildings. Thomas Coex / AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2FDM2PK5XDMJVI4L7XMCZQ72E.jpg?smart=true&auth=e93be3d122815fd31848044b965134fa42841b0800e77d66abe7884cd299a272&width=400&height=225)
This classroom took a battering. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7BWCKMANWD5MQDQLFWFYRVIY2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=de09f930e1dfcef879fd1d6a371321355d4b58bbb29d7f465f7eeb2970d894be&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian children walk past a series of damaged buildings on their way to school for the first day of the new scholastic year in Gaza City. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WHSLI34KG4YV2KLQV5MIP7S3TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cc94cdf788b4c56d19fd0827466a4939a449a6d526cf0f3172de7f70c023bab&width=400&height=225)
Rahaf Abu Fares, 10, who lost four family members when an Israeli artillery bombardment hit his family home in May, carries a teddy bear amid the rubble of his house, at the Bedouin village of Umm Al-Nasr in the northern Gaza Strip. After initially finding no grounds for disciplinary action, the Israeli military says it is investigating the artillery bombardment that killed six Palestinians, including an infant. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CLOZ2PN5VO5N6KED2TSUKWFLQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b7fbd903aacabad7ee626e746e32aaee8029d4f2d0fe43018f265b4eaa219d8&width=400&height=225)
Much of the area remains under rubble. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZF5CPP4PHUXHIXWQLMWGXJEHPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c06594e0b109d4297f7c5388cea70026ea68c8336634d7f34b8a5affe41c6a0c&width=400&height=225)
But life goes on and most of the school pupils seem relieved to return to the classroom to resume their education. AP Photo
Al Zaitoun Preparatory Girls' School in Gaza City was badly damaged in the conflict that broke out May this year. Rosie Scammell / The National
Pupils have now returned after reconstruction work and here a teacher gives a lesson to a packed classroom. Rosie Scammell / The National
A wall which was damaged by air strikes during the 11-day war between Gaza and Israel. Rosie Scammell / The National
The damage was cleaned up before lessons started up again at the school. Rosie Scammell / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJCOQ5XFHZJFHKSR3C4EIPU2BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7267a5d406d3608ae3b09934e69481e68e37ff0cd108b7a8437d6552e766af9d&width=400&height=225)
On the first day of the new academic year in Gaza City, Palestinian pupils inspect a classroom that was damaged by sir strikes. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RXS3QYRV3BNIPPFANSI7MJU3ZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=88f8e321f6277dc64eaaac7b3c94ed960c979e68499680a829e6fe52e06b5f89&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian girls walk among the heavily damaged buildings. Thomas Coex / AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2FDM2PK5XDMJVI4L7XMCZQ72E.jpg?smart=true&auth=e93be3d122815fd31848044b965134fa42841b0800e77d66abe7884cd299a272&width=400&height=225)
This classroom took a battering. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7BWCKMANWD5MQDQLFWFYRVIY2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=de09f930e1dfcef879fd1d6a371321355d4b58bbb29d7f465f7eeb2970d894be&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian children walk past a series of damaged buildings on their way to school for the first day of the new scholastic year in Gaza City. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WHSLI34KG4YV2KLQV5MIP7S3TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cc94cdf788b4c56d19fd0827466a4939a449a6d526cf0f3172de7f70c023bab&width=400&height=225)
Rahaf Abu Fares, 10, who lost four family members when an Israeli artillery bombardment hit his family home in May, carries a teddy bear amid the rubble of his house, at the Bedouin village of Umm Al-Nasr in the northern Gaza Strip. After initially finding no grounds for disciplinary action, the Israeli military says it is investigating the artillery bombardment that killed six Palestinians, including an infant. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CLOZ2PN5VO5N6KED2TSUKWFLQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b7fbd903aacabad7ee626e746e32aaee8029d4f2d0fe43018f265b4eaa219d8&width=400&height=225)
Much of the area remains under rubble. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZF5CPP4PHUXHIXWQLMWGXJEHPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c06594e0b109d4297f7c5388cea70026ea68c8336634d7f34b8a5affe41c6a0c&width=400&height=225)
But life goes on and most of the school pupils seem relieved to return to the classroom to resume their education. AP Photo
Gaza's children return to schools scarred by May war
Teenagers find some classrooms unusable after air strikes leave holes in walls
Nagham Mohanna
14 September, 2021
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