Education remains a distant dream for children in Gaza

GAZA STRIP — September marks the start of the school year for children in many parts around the world, but for the Palestinian students living in war-torn Gaza, the prospect of returning to school this September continues to be a distant hope — just like last year.

At the entrance of a displacement camp in the central Gaza Strip city of Deir al-Balah, 12-year-old Maram sat quietly, with an old, dust-covered school bag placed beside her.

"Every year I used to go with my mother to buy new notebooks and pencils, but for three years we haven't bought anything," she said in a low voice.