Palestine – Action Group
In a story that encapsulates the suffering of displacement and the determination to live, Palestinian-Syrian student Sabreen al-Khadra achieved outstanding results in her high school exams in the Gaza Strip. Today, she begins her medical studies, defying the hardships of war and displacement that have accompanied her educational journey.
Born in 2008, Sabreen comes from a Palestinian-Syrian family originally from Yarmouk Camp. Following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, her family moved to the Gaza Strip and now resides in al-Bureij Camp.
According to information obtained by the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria, Sabreen achieved a 94% average in the science track in 2025, qualifying her for admission to the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University, despite the harsh humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The village is under bombardment
Speaking to the Action Group, Sabreen described her educational experience as “almost impossible” amidst the ongoing bombardment, the destruction of homes, and repeated displacement. “Our house was completely destroyed, and we were forced to live in tents. We left those tents multiple times due to displacement until we finally settled in a damaged, dilapidated building,” she said. “Studying under these conditions was a huge challenge.”
Sabreen added, “Despite everything, we were determined to continue because the imposed reality wanted us to stop studying. So we pursued our studies by any means possible, undeterred by the death and destruction.”
The journey to medical school… a difficult decision and family insistence.
Entering medical school wasn’t an easy choice for Sabreen. She indicated that she was hesitant because of the high tuition fees, which reached approximately $5,000 annually, paid in installments.
“I was hesitant at first so as not to burden my father,” she said, “but his insistence encouraged me to pursue this field… and today I feel I have a great responsibility.”
A shared reality for Gaza students
Sabreen’s experience reflects a broader reality for high school students in the Gaza Strip. She notes that almost all her classmates have endured similar circumstances of bombing, displacement, and homelessness, making the educational process a daily challenge.
In this context, Sabreen told the Action Group: “What we experienced during our studies cannot be easily described… It was a harsh experience in every detail, but we clung to our right to education despite everything.”
Regarding the presence of Palestinian Syrians in Gaza
Unofficial estimates indicate the presence of hundreds of Palestinian Syrians in the Gaza Strip. Most arrived at various times, either after the Oslo Accords in 1994 or following the outbreak of the Syrian crisis. They live in complex conditions, particularly given the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip.
Success that transcends boundaries
Sabreen’s story is a living testament to the resilience of Palestinian refugees. Her journey intertwines displacement from Syria, the war in Gaza, and an unbroken academic ambition that has endured despite all the challenges.
In the complex reality faced by thousands of students, her success stands as a message that education remains possible, even in the harshest of environments, and that determination can unlock the doors to the future, no matter how dire the circumstances.