As news of a ceasefire in Gaza spread, some students at Athens Drive found themselves amidst an ongoing emotional war, caught between relief and a deep sense of uncertainty. For those with family in Palestine, the end of the airstrikes is not the end of suffering. Their families remain in danger, childhood homes are left unrecognizable, and the long-term futures of children in Gaza remain uncertain.
“I should feel relieved, but I’m still holding my breath,” said Afnan Samara, a 10th grader whose relatives still live in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967. “A ceasefire doesn’t mean safety, especially not for Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the ceasefire, things have only gotten worse. My cousins are still in an active war zone, living in a destroyed home, resisting displacement. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to visit home again,” said Samara.
According to the United Nations, over 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced due to the latest round of conflict, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. The International Court of Justice concluded that “there is a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention,” calling for immediate measures to prevent further suffering. Despite these global concerns, the humanitarian crisis persists, leaving many Gazan families struggling to access necessities for their everyday lives.
The psychological aspect of the conflict has affected students’ abilities to focus, and many feel like they can’t talk about it openly. While the conflict may dominate news for days or weeks, the attention often fades quickly. For many students, conversations about the ceasefire feel distant and usually desensitized, reduced to tiny screens on their phones. But for those with direct ties, it is deeply personal. “I sit in class, and I’m supposed to think about a test, but all I can think about is whether my grandma has food today,” said an 11th-grade student who wished to remain anonymous, who lived in Gaza until she was five.
The loss is catastrophic. Schools, hospitals, and places of worship have been destroyed. According to reports from humanitarian organizations, rebuilding could take decades. The World Health Organization has called the medical situation in Gaza practically unlivable, with hospitals operating whilst facing severe shortages of medicine, such as surgeries without the proper anesthetic.
Despite the pain, these students also speak of resilience. They describe the strength of their families, the solidarity inside their communities, and the importance of sharing stories. “Even though I’m here, I still feel connected to Gaza,” said Samara. “We keep speaking, we keep remembering, and we don’t stop hoping for peace.” Organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Crescent continue to call for increased humanitarian aid and international interventions to protect citizens.
As the world watches to see whether the ceasefire will hold, students from Gaza living in the U.S. continue their fight in their struggle to balance school grief and emphasize empathy to their peers. “We just want people to care,” said an anonymous student, “not for a day, not just when it’s trending, but until Palestinians can rest.”
UPDATE: The ceasefire in Gaza, which had lasted for two months, has fallen through on March 18th 2025, when Israel resumed airstrikes targeting Hamas. This has since led to the death of over 400 Palestinians on the first day. The Israeli government has justified this stating that Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining hostages, despite ongoing negotiations, has lead to the removal of the ceasefire.
