Gaza's Only Catholic School Reopens After Nearly Three Years of War

The Holy Family School in Gaza reopened on September 15, 2026, after nearly three years of closure caused by the ongoing war. The school is attached to the Holy Family Parish, Gaza's only Catholic church.

Approximately 1,000 students are now enrolled, including 180 in kindergarten and 820 in primary school. About 130 of those students are Christian. The majority of the student body is Muslim, reflecting the school's role as a community institution rather than a strictly religious one.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, said the reopening is intended to give children a sense of normalcy and hope. "We want this to be a light in the darkness," he said.

Before classes resumed, the school compound had housed more than 450 displaced civilians seeking shelter from the fighting. Staff worked to repair buildings and create a safe environment for students before the school year began.

The school has added a formal psychosocial support program for both students and teachers, a measure not previously part of the curriculum. Officials from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said the program is essential given the trauma children have experienced.

Prior to the conflict, five Christian schools operated in Gaza. The reopening of Holy Family School marks the first time all Christian students in the area are studying together in a single Christian environment.

Aid organizations and church groups described the reopening as a significant step toward rebuilding community life in one of the world's most damaged urban areas.