Gaza teen triumphs despite war, loss and displacement

year-old Saba Rabah scored 99.9 percent, ranking first in the science stream of the Palestinian Tawjihi high school exams.

The exams were held in June 2026 in Gaza, the West Bank, Egypt, and other countries for the first time in three years since the war began in October 2023.

Rabah's father, a teacher at UNRWA schools, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in June 2024; her family's home was demolished in January 2024.

Despite war, loss, and displacement, Rabah achieved the highest score among over 25,000 students in the science stream.

Most of Gaza's schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of children without formal education.