In the heart of a bustling camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza, a strikingly colorful poster of a red cartoon racing car stands out against a gate. Beyond it, a pathway leading to a cluster of tent classrooms is decorated with children’s artwork, offering a poignant reflection of their difficult realities.
One drawing, depicting an orange and yellow house amidst green grass and olive trees, bears the heartfelt caption: ‘I had a house, but today I have nothing.’
Twelve-year-old Raseel al-Shaer expresses her relief and joy at being able to learn alongside other children in al-Mawasi once more. ‘Here, it is safe,’ she shares. ‘No drones or bombs. The best thing is sitting at a desk, seeing the teacher and the board, and holding a pencil again.’
Quietly, and despite significant dangers, a network of free private schools has emerged in the Gaza Strip, specifically catering to war orphans and other vulnerable children. These institutions, known as Academies of Hope, are the brainchild of Dr. David Hasan, a Palestinian-American neurosurgeon. His inspiration stemmed from medical relief missions to Gaza following the Israel-Hamas conflict that began on October 7, 2023.
(Image: Children diligently studying in a classroom at wooden desks, some writing in notebooks while one gestures.)
(Image: A person and a child walk through a covered passage adorned with vibrant cartoon drawings on its walls.)
Although he hasn’t been able to return to Gaza since early 2024, Dr. Hasan successfully built these educational centers by collaborating with humanitarian organizations on the ground, hiring Palestinian staff remotely via WhatsApp, and securing funding primarily from Jewish donors in the United States and Israel.
Currently, approximately 9,000 students, ranging from grades one to nine, attend classes across five campuses in southern Gaza. They participate in three-hour shifts, receiving not only education but also nourishing hot meals, medical care, and psychological support.
Operating schools in an active war zone presents immense challenges, and most schools throughout the enclave are struggling to recover. However, Dr. Hasan has taken on additional complexities. He revised the Palestinian Authority’s curriculum, which has faced criticism, and has diligently worked to protect his schools from militant interference. He also ensures that all his staff members are vetted for any ties to militant groups—a concern Israel has raised regarding the United Nations agency for Palestinians in Gaza and some international aid organizations.
These schools utilize a modified version of the Palestinian Authority’s curriculum, typically taught in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. However, they deliberately exclude any content that demonizes Jews or glorifies violence against Israel. Dr. Hasan confirmed these curriculum changes were implemented without the Authority’s consent, leading to threats from its education ministry. The ministry’s spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
(Image: Two children look out from a structure with a wall featuring an illustration of a smiling child holding a tennis racket.)
(Image: A wall covered with colorful children’s drawings of houses, flags, and rainbows, with a photo of Dr. David Hasan in the center.)
Both Israel, the United States, and the European Union have consistently criticized the Palestinian Authority’s textbooks for allegedly promoting hatred and antisemitism. The Authority, however, maintains that its curriculum appropriately teaches Palestinian nationalism, history, and culture.
To illustrate the curriculum modifications, here are some examples:
- A math problem that previously compared the number of “martyrs” killed in the first and second intifadas has been replaced with one focusing on attendance at a West Bank soccer match.
- A reading passage that once lauded Dalal Mughrabi, a woman responsible for a 1978 attack that killed 38 Israelis, including 13 children, has been substituted with a story about Hind al-Husseini, a prominent Palestinian educator.
- In an Islamic studies class, a text about an alleged attempt by Jews to kill the Prophet Muhammad has been replaced with one emphasizing the prophet’s respect for Jewish people.
Additionally, Dr. Hasan’s team introduced new weekly lessons on ‘peace building.’ These lessons focus on cultivating ideals such as tolerance, respect for differences, the golden rule, and conflict resolution.
In a recent video recorded by a school employee during one of these lessons, a young boy is seen drawing Palestinian and Israeli flags side by side. He shares his hope: ‘I wish there will be no more wars so that we can live.’
(Video: Children at the Academies of Hope engage in school activities, receiving meals and care.)
(Image: Two masked surgeons perform an operation in an operating room, representing Dr. Hasan’s medical volunteer work.)
Dr. Hasan admits that his peace-building curriculum is politically sensitive, and some teachers have expressed fear of repercussions from Hamas as the group consolidates its control over parts of Gaza. He noted that some faculty members have resigned or been dismissed due to these concerns. He even mentioned exploring the installation of cameras in classrooms to ensure adherence to the revised curriculum.
On social media, some Gazans have questioned whether Dr. Hasan’s initiative is too aligned with Israeli interests. Others, disillusioned by Hamas, argue that promoting tolerance is a superior alternative to teaching children to sacrifice themselves.
The discomfort surrounding this topic was evident in interviews with faculty members. Most were not experienced teachers, either teaching for the first time or being retired principals. They initially stressed their use of the standard Palestinian curriculum but, when pressed, acknowledged some deletions.
Alaa Sabbah, 35, who was leading a class through the basic components of a cell, emphasized that his teaching went beyond science. ‘We teach respect, tolerance, and accepting others,’ he explained. ‘We teach them how to rise again, like a phoenix, and how to come back to life from under the rubble. We teach them to love people and to socialize.’
When the first school opened last July, Dr. Hasan says he provided the Israeli military with the school’s coordinates, hoping to ensure its safety. However, in August, the staff received an Israeli attack warning and evacuated. An airstrike subsequently hit militants next door. The school sustained minor damage but quickly relocated, according to Dr. Hasan. That initial school was designed for 200 students, but 500 showed up on the first day. ‘Some hadn’t had food for days,’ he recalled. ‘The kids were so excited – for the first time they were thriving. And they didn’t want to go home. We had to kick them out in the evening.’
(Image: Children patiently waiting in line on sandy ground as two individuals serve meals from large cooking pots.)
(Image: A nurse in a plaid shirt carefully examines a child’s mouth inside a white shelter bearing UNICEF and WFP signs.)
Last summer, amidst severe malnutrition due to an Israeli blockade, Dr. Hasan purchased large quantities of flour on the black market for residents of Deir al-Balah. Having earned the trust of local elders, he convinced them to provide space for a school. Since then, leaders of prominent families in Gaza have facilitated securing locations for more schools. ‘The way we did it is by gaining trust,’ he stated. Part of this trust-building involves assuring families, Israelis, and his donors that his staff has no ties to militant groups. Dr. Hasan confirmed that every employee has been cleared by Israeli authorities and checked against a U.S. government sanctions list.
He also openly shares that his donors include Israelis. ‘I told the elders, ‘I work with the Israelis,’’ he said. ‘They responded, ‘As long as they don’t want to brainwash our kids, we’re fine.’’
Dr. Hasan, 53, a researcher and professor at Duke University’s medical school, had no prior experience in humanitarian aid before the 2023 conflict, nor was he deeply involved in Palestinian life. Born in Kuwait to parents from the West Bank, he moved to Texas for college at 18. At 19, he changed his given name, Emad, to David. The war, he explained, compelled him to act. In December 2023, he joined a medical mission in Gaza, performing 20 operations in 10 days, often without anesthetics or antiseptics. He witnessed horrific conditions, recording footage of maggots in unhealed wounds. Every patient he operated on, he tragically noted, eventually succumbed to infection. He returned the following April with more medical supplies, achieving better outcomes.
(Image: A person points to a whiteboard with ‘Healthy food’ written on it, addressing students, one of whom has a hand raised.)
(Image: Three children are seated at a table with art supplies. One child proudly displays a drawing of a red heart and red flowers.)
However, the sheer number of orphaned children deeply affected him, particularly a 10-year-old girl he observed quickly taking on the responsibility of her younger siblings after their parents were killed. ‘The kids, they’re the victims of this war,’ Dr. Hasan expressed from his home in Durham, N.C. ‘They had no decision in it.’
He hasn’t returned to Gaza since April 2024, as he believes he drew suspicion. While not performing surgeries, he reportedly investigated hospital storerooms and asked questions, attempting to ascertain if Israeli hostages were present. He claims he fled after being alerted that armed militants were looking for him. He has also partnered with celebrity chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen, which provides meals, desks, benches, and bookshelves for the students. Mr. Andrés has donated $500,000 to Dr. Hasan’s project and pledged another $500,000. ‘Sometimes big problems have very simple solutions that can be solved by somebody with endless energy and not taking no for an answer,’ Andrés said. ‘It’s OK to dream big, because Gaza requires people like David dreaming big.’
Dr. Hasan plans to open his sixth school east of Khan Younis, designed to accommodate 10,000 children, offer some college courses, and even feature a small zoo. His ambitious goal is to expand the network to serve up to 250,000 young people by the end of the year.
(Image: Children standing in rows outdoors, performing exercises with arms raised high against a backdrop of white buildings.)
(Image: Children playing outdoors on dusty ground with hula hoops and orange cones.)
For Shireen Mohammed, 34, these schools have been a profound blessing for her children. ‘This is the best thing that has ever happened to us,’ she remarked. ‘Before this place, we were afraid to let our children go anywhere. Now it is safe and productive for them — emotionally, socially, and educationally.’
Outside the classrooms in al-Mawasi, nine-year-old Aisha Abu Marzouq, displaced from Rafah, expressed her hope for a playground at her new school but had no complaints. ‘I don’t want to leave this place,’ she declared. ‘My first day here was the best start to life again.’