Chana Joffe-Walt

There was one bedroom. She slept on a mattress on the floor alongside her parents, brother, grandpa, uncle, and aunt. Everyone else slept in the living area. If Banyas wanted any time in the tiny bathroom, she got up early in the morning, then she ate breakfast, and then what?

There was one bedroom. She slept on a mattress on the floor alongside her parents, brother, grandpa, uncle, and aunt. Everyone else slept in the living area. If Banyas wanted any time in the tiny bathroom, she got up early in the morning, then she ate breakfast, and then what?

What classes were you taking? A math class. Okay. And did you write actual math, or is it just pretend?

What classes were you taking? A math class. Okay. And did you write actual math, or is it just pretend?

At this point, July, Banias had not been in actual class in an actual school building for nine months. But she played school every day with three other girls, two younger and one older. There were other kids in the building, but everyone else was just OK or a boy or a baby.

At this point, July, Banias had not been in actual class in an actual school building for nine months. But she played school every day with three other girls, two younger and one older. There were other kids in the building, but everyone else was just OK or a boy or a baby.

When aid organizations go into other war zones, one of the first things they do for kids is set up schools because children need a sense of routine and a sense that life is moving forward toward a future. There's no safe place in Gaza to set up schools like that. So Banias and her friends in the building created that for themselves. They played school for hours. There were lectures.

When aid organizations go into other war zones, one of the first things they do for kids is set up schools because children need a sense of routine and a sense that life is moving forward toward a future. There's no safe place in Gaza to set up schools like that. So Banias and her friends in the building created that for themselves. They played school for hours. There were lectures.

There were assignments. There were exams. Who is usually in charge of what you're going to do that day?

There were assignments. There were exams. Who is usually in charge of what you're going to do that day?

Donna is generous with her iPad. So this is another part of Banias' day. Games on the iPad. When the war started, her mother's screen time rules went out the window. But also, Israel cut off electricity to Gaza. There's just generators and solar panels. So screen time is limited anyway.

Donna is generous with her iPad. So this is another part of Banias' day. Games on the iPad. When the war started, her mother's screen time rules went out the window. But also, Israel cut off electricity to Gaza. There's just generators and solar panels. So screen time is limited anyway.

Banyas was reenacting her old life, where she had teachers and exams and went out to cafes. There was one they used to go to every Saturday.

Banyas was reenacting her old life, where she had teachers and exams and went out to cafes. There was one they used to go to every Saturday.

Okay. Did they make salad and pancakes?

Okay. Did they make salad and pancakes?

Mm-hmm. What did you eat in real life today?

Mm-hmm. What did you eat in real life today?

Some white beans. Do you ever get to eat pancakes or noodles or burgers?

Some white beans. Do you ever get to eat pancakes or noodles or burgers?