SAFA- For Anfal Baraka, passing Palestine's General Secondary Education Examination (Tawjihi) was far more than an academic milestone. It represented hope, resilience, and a determination to reclaim her future after surviving an Israeli attack that killed her entire family during the genocide in Gaza.

Now undergoing treatment in Türkiye for severe injuries, Anfal insisted on taking her Tawjihi examinations in person rather than online, despite months of painful recovery and ongoing medical care. This week, her determination was rewarded when she passed the exams, achieving a remarkable success as the sole survivor of an Israeli attack on her family's home in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis.

On November 13, 2023, Anfal sustained life-threatening injuries to her head, pelvis, and foot. Since then, her life has been defined by a long and difficult journey through hospitals and operating rooms as she sought treatment outside Gaza.

Determination Beyond Recovery

Speaking to Safa News Agency, her uncle, Moayyad Baraka, said Anfal refused to let her injuries bring an end to her education.

Her treatment began in Gaza before she was transferred to Egypt, then Algeria, and finally to Türkiye, where she has been receiving specialized medical care for nearly a year and a half.

"Despite the constant medical examinations, surgeries, and the seriousness of her condition, Anfal never lost sight of her dream of completing her education," he said. "Her determination and perseverance ultimately led her to succeed in the Tawjihi examinations."

Because of intensive treatment and rehabilitation, Anfal was unable to begin the school year with her classmates and only enrolled at the start of the second semester.

Even then, she refused the option of taking the examinations remotely.

"She insisted on sitting the exams in person," her uncle said. "It reflected her unwavering commitment to education and her determination to overcome the extraordinary circumstances she has endured, despite her physical injuries and the psychological trauma of losing her entire family."

Anfal's achievement mirrors the resilience of thousands of Palestinian students whose education has been disrupted by Israel's ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza. Many completed their studies while enduring displacement, the loss of loved ones, serious injuries, and the collapse of much of the territory's education system.

Palestine's Ministry of Education announced the Tawjihi results for students in Gaza and the occupied West Bank on Friday, with Anfal's success standing as a powerful testament to courage, perseverance, and the determination to build a future despite unimaginable loss.