In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, seven university students — four studying medicine, two dentistry, and one software engineering — are running an ice cream parlor called Flora. They call themselves 'the doctors,' but regulars have nicknamed them 'the nerds,' a badge they wear proudly as it reflects their lives beyond the shop.
Gaza's higher education system has been largely non-operational since October 2023, with about 88,000 students forced to suspend studies. 95% of campuses have been damaged or destroyed. Flora's founders are among the few exceptions, finding a way to continue their education.
Jihad al-Saqa, a 20-year-old second-year medical student at Al-Azhar University, described his struggles: 'I searched for work all over al-Mawasi, where I live with my family after our house was hit by Israeli strikes. The jobs I found paid poorly and required 12-hour shifts, incompatible with my studies.' Now he works seven-hour evening shifts at Flora, balancing work and study.
Qassem al-Agha, the only software engineering student and a co-founder, saw his father's income drop to $200 a month, and their home was destroyed. Establishing Flora cost over $25,000. Al-Agha borrowed from his uncle and a friend, and his mother sold a gold bracelet from her 2004 wedding for $1,000 to help.
The team salvaged old tiles, iron, and timber from their destroyed homes near the 'Yellow Line' in al-Qarara. 'A drone followed us near our homes; we barely escaped. My uncle Bassem al-Saqa, 45, was killed that day on March 3, 2026,' al-Agha recalled.
Flora opened on March 19. 'Our project was born through blood, hardship, and accumulated debt. Flora is not just a project; it is life, hope, and a future for everyone who works here,' al-Agha said. The shop sells ice cream, fresh juices, cake, and sweets, priced $1 to $7.
Dentistry student Ahmed Shabir recounted being used as a human shield by Israeli soldiers in January 2024 when tanks invaded western Khan Younis. He refused to abandon his disabled father. 'So when we struggle to source ingredients, it doesn't compare to being a human shield. We have no choice but to succeed.'
Ayyoub Abu Musleh, handling accounts, nearly died on July 7, 2025, when a drone struck while he retrieved schoolbooks from rubble, killing his friend. 'After all this, can we be defeated by any challenge? We may be delayed, but we will not be defeated,' he said.
Saleh al-Abadla, in charge of procurement, keeps a notebook tracking expenses. 'Self-reliance is no longer a choice in Gaza; it is a necessity. No one knows where Gaza is headed, so we build what we can, now, with what we have,' he stated.
Source: www.aljazeera.com