Gaza PhD scholar is now baker to feed family, others amid Israel’s war

In the wake of Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, Bader Slaih was one of the many Palestinian scholars from Gaza who had to put down their books.

Slaih started baking bread with his family during the war after moving from Bureij in central Gaza. He still has dreams that will help the young people in Gaza who have experienced their families’ deaths, the destruction of their homes, and the demise of their schools and education.

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Everyone was affected by the war. He claimed that we were humiliated and tormented.

We built a brick oven to bake bread for our children, Slaih told Al Jazeera. “We built a brick oven out of a dire need,” Slaih said.

He continued, “We had to bake to feed our children and other people.”

Palestinians have always had a strong interest in learning.

Prior to Israel’s war, Gaza’s educational system was flourishing, and literacy rates were reportedly among the highest in the world.

In 2023, Palestinians aged 15 and older had a rate of 2.1 percent, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Slaih claimed to have been devoted to his studies from the beginning of his life until he returned to Gaza to serve his country.

He told Al Jazeera, “I filed all of my certificates with universities after I came back, hoping to begin my teaching career.”

“But then the war broke out,” the author writes.

Due to the fact that Slaih was left behind during the war, his wife and son left Gaza for medical reasons.

“It was challenging for me. He said, “I stayed with my other family members because my son’s medical needs were more important.”

Educational system ruined

More than 97 percent of Gaza’s schools are damaged or destroyed, according to a UNICEF report released in November.

According to the report, 91.8% of all educational facilities must be completely rebuilt or undergo significant rehabilitation to restore function.

According to local reports, all 12 of Gaza’s 12 universities have been completely or partially destroyed and are inaccessible.

Since there is a ceasefire in place in Gaza, Slaih declared that his career is firmly rooted there, adding that “Patience and resolve are part of our DNA.”

Even in a tent, I’ll be a teacher. Even if I have to construct a classroom from scratch, my goal is to teach Palestinian students, he said.

“I’m confident that I will fulfill my dream very soon, with my hopes still high.”