Medical education in Gaza: navigating disruption during the 2023–2025 Israeli military assault and beyond

Abstract

Before October 2023, Gaza's medical education, offered by Al-Azhar University and the Islamic University, enrolled around 2500 students and played a vital role in training local physicians despite the blockade-related challenges. The ongoing military assault has since devastated both the educational and healthcare infrastructure. Medical schools and hospitals have been damaged, destroyed, or militarized, while students and faculty have faced displacement, resources scarcity, and severe psychological distress. Education has been further disrupted by power outages, internet restrictions, unsafe travel and harsh living conditions. Despite these obstacles, students and faculty continue to adapt. Many have completed courses online, relocated abroad, or even managed to fulfill graduation requirements. Yet credentialing barriers and mental health burdens persist. Urgent global collaboration is needed to restore Gaza's medical education. Key priorities include expanding online programs, offering diverse training opportunities, creating safe learning environments, and supporting mental health. Recognizing Gazan medical students' frontline volunteering experience is also essential. This paper documents the state of medical education in Gaza before and during the 2023-2025 assault, examines its disruptions, and outlines recovery strategies drawing from available reports and academic literature.