An entire generation of young people in the war-torn Gaza Strip are watching their future collapse under the weight of shattered schools, mass unemployment, and the lingering trauma of conflict.
Gaza's youth have been stripped of their classrooms, jobs and prospects by a wave of devastating Israeli bombardments, leaving hundreds of thousands without education, income or a path to build their future.
"We have no access to education, no life, no source of income, and no conditions favorable to young people. The youth have been completely destroyed. As a young man, I once dreamed of getting married and starting a family, but given the reality we are living through, I simply cannot build a family," said Nafez Al Nader, an unemployed young man.
According to data from the International Labour Organization released this month, the unemployment rate in Gaza has reached 85 percent. Even worse, 90 percent of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly all universities have been demolished. This devastation has nearly eliminated the opportunity for Gaza's youth to continue their education.
"Right now, there are no scholarships, no education; all channels have been severed. We have no way out, no shelter," said Mahmoud Al Mashharawi, a young Gaza resident.
"My future is completely uncertain. I don't know what I can do. We cannot study normally. Even those with a passion to learn are crushed by these harsh conditions," said Mohammed Awaja, another young man.
Health authorities underscored the toll, reporting that 72,593 Palestinians have been killed and 172,399 wounded since the Hamas‑Israel conflict erupted on October 7, 2023. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10 last year, 817 Palestinians have died and 2,296 have been injured.
The United Nations and European Union issued a joint warning on April 20 that human development across Gaza has been set back by a staggering 77 years, with 71.4 billion U.S. dollars needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction.
Young Gazans facing bleak outlook as soaring unemployment shatters future hopes
