Books in Gaza Gain New Life Amid Devastation and Siege

What happened

Al Jazeera Gaza reports on the journey of books in Gaza, where widespread destruction of homes, schools, and libraries has turned surviving books into treasured and rare possessions. The article profiles individuals like Aya al-Shawa, a schoolchild, and Mohammed Saad, a bookseller and rescuer, whose efforts illuminate the significance of books as vessels for education and cultural memory amid the conflict.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The article places this story in the context of the ongoing hardships in Gaza: UNICEF estimates about 98% of school buildings have been heavily damaged or destroyed, leaving roughly 700,000 children without regular in-person education since October 2023. Under a ceasefire beginning in October 2025, some Israeli bombing has eased, allowing limited recovery and repair of books—a vital resource for reconnecting children to learning.

Mohammed Saad, displaced multiple times and having lost his extensive book collection to attacks, has salvaged around 12,000 volumes from rubble and established a tent library. He sells books affordably, ensuring they remain accessible, despite the difficult conditions including damage risks from heat, humidity, and rain inside his temporary shelter. This effort underscores the challenges and importance of preserving knowledge and educational material during war and displacement.

Known from the source

• Nearly all school buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged according to UNICEF.
• Approximately 700,000 children in Gaza have lacked regular in-person education since October 2023.
• A ceasefire has been in place since October 2025 with reduced Israeli bombing reported.
• Mohammed Saad recovered about 12,000 books from rubble and set up a tent library in Deir el-Balah.
• Book repair costs have risen sharply due to the siege on Gaza, making restoration more expensive.

What remains unclear

Another rescuer, Omar Hamad, has recovered thousands of books from destroyed libraries and private collections, often painstakingly cleaning and repairing them with help from expert bookbinder Jameel Mikdad. However, rising prices on repair materials due to the siege and economic hardship have made restoration costly and not always feasible, with some books beyond repair, serving as haunting physical witnesses to the conflict.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of UNICEF’s and UNESCO’s estimates and damage reports. Confirmation of the ceasefire timeline and its effects on bombing and aid access. Corroboration of economic effects cited related to blockade impacts on book repair costs.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Gaza. Open the source.