Ikram Talaat Ahmed teaches displaced children in Gaza.
As Palestinians face nearly a year of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, many have found ways to help their community—through acts big and small.
In the stories below, read how Palestinians are providing medicine, education, and moments of joy to many others, despite dealing with grave losses of their own. These stories are part of our “Displaced in Gaza” series, which includes dozens of personal testimonies from people who have been repeatedly displaced in their homeland since Oct. 7, 2023.
Read their stories to learn more about what they’ve been through, the challenges they face, and the future they hope for.
Teaching children in displacement camps
Name: Ikram Talaat Ahmed
Age: 29
“Before the war, I worked as an English language teacher at a kindergarten in the Gaza Strip. In the evenings, I gave private lessons to students at my own educational center beneath my house. I had been working since university, but during this war, I lost my job. My house and educational center were bombed, and the school where I worked was destroyed.
I lost everything in this war, but I was able to turn my family's displacement tent into a small school for teaching displaced children. …This is the story of our great loss caused by the Israeli occupation during their war on the Gaza Strip, and my resistance to the occupation through education. ... I am a teacher, and it is my duty to educate children and ensure the emergence of an educated, cultured generation capable of uplifting our homeland. I continued my work during the war with all courage, and I ensured that Gaza remains, as everyone knows it, a hub for knowledge and scholars.”
Creating joy for children despite displacement
Name: Akram Abdul Nabi Al-Ajrami
Age: 61
“I spend my time organizing recreational and educational activities for children and all residents of the tents. We have been living in tents for several months and there is no source of entertainment for our children. These days are the worst of our lives, especially for our children. We suffer greatly living in these conditions.
I work hard to organize activities that alleviate the suffering of our children and bring some joy and happiness to their hearts. ... We hope that the war will end soon, and that all the difficult conditions we're experiencing will end. I hope to return to the Jabalia camp as soon as possible. I miss my home and the neighborhood I live in. I miss seeing my neighbors and relatives. I miss my life before the war.”
Providing medical services under impossible conditions
Name: Ahmed Nasr Halas
Age: 42
“During the intense Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the occupation destroyed the two pharmacies I owned in Gaza City. I lost my job and sole source of income. Despite this, I felt a responsibility to serve the displaced people of my nation. I opened a small pharmacy in the tent where I now live, having been displaced myself.
I work around the clock to provide medical services and medications to thousands of displaced people, finding great happiness in alleviating their suffering. ... I dream that the war will stop immediately and that I will soon be able to rebuild my two pharmacies and resume their operations to serve my family, neighbors, and all patients in the Shujaiya neighborhood.
It is true that the occupation destroyed the pharmacies I worked hard to open, but my dream is still alive. I still dream of opening a pharmaceutical company and completing my master's and doctoral studies.”
Entertaining children for Eid al-Fitr
Name: Sa’id Khamees Al-Halabi
Age: 12
“The first time the school I work in was bombed, I was standing by the school's gate and the occupation bombed the schoolyard. During the second bombing, I was going to repair the trampoline. The bombing happened very close to where I usually place the trampoline. But God saved me. I fear that I will be killed by the occupation's missiles or injured and disabled. I see hundreds of wounded and injured every day in shelters.
During last Eid al-Fitr, several youth groups organized a "Holiday Joy" event for displaced children at the school. I joined them in entertaining the children and let them play on the trampoline for free. I was happy to bring joy to the faces of displaced children. Although I need money to help my family, I was extremely happy with the beautiful humanitarian work I had done.”