Seven Gaza Students Open Ice Cream Shop Amid War to Fund Their Education Dreams

On the coastal Al-Rashid road in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, a small ice cream shop named Flora run by seven university students has become a beacon of hope amid the devastation of Gaza. Four study medicine, two dentistry, and one software engineering, all balancing work and study to avoid abandoning their futures.

Regular customers call them 'nerds,' a nickname they proudly accept because it acknowledges their life beyond the ice cream counter. One handles orders, quickly scooping ice cream into cups, adding sprinkles and toppings, and smiling as he hands it over. Another runs tables, a third manages the kitchen, and a fourth does the accounting—all transactions are electronic because cash has nearly disappeared from Gaza.

Behind the counter, Ayyoub Abu Musleh, one of the founders, negotiates ingredient prices with suppliers—costs constantly rising due to the Israeli blockade. Flora opened in March this year, backed by over $25,000 raised through loans and a student's mother's wedding ring.

Qassem al-Agha, 20, a software engineering student and co-founder, recalled: 'My mother sold her wedding ring from 2004, worth $1,000, to help me start the shop. I was sad to see her sell such a precious keepsake, but she insisted so I could work and return to school.'

Flora was built from rubble, scrap metal, and wood salvaged from the students' demolished homes near the 'Golden Road' in al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis. The cleanup was dangerous: 'A drone followed us near the house. On March 3, 2026, my uncle Bassem al-Saqa, 45, was killed in an airstrike right nearby,' al-Agha remembered.

Jihad al-Saqa, a second-year medical student at Al-Azhar University, works seven-hour evening shifts at Flora, standing all the time with a constant smile. Before finding this job, he had searched across al-Mawasi for work but said, 'The jobs I found paid very little and required 12-hour shifts, which wasn't compatible with my studies.'

Ahmed Shabir, 21, a dental student, recalled the darkest period when Israel attacked Khan Younis in January 2024: 'I was used as a human shield by Israeli soldiers for three days. Hungry, thirsty, and certain I would die. So, difficulties like lack of ingredients can't compare to being a human shield. We have no choice but to succeed.'

Prices for ice cream and juice at Flora range from $1 to $7, competitive by local standards. Modest revenues help pay off debts and cover tuition. The group calls itself 'future doctors,' and loyal customer Yasmine Madi, a nurse at an Italian clinic in al-Mawasi, said: 'It's not just about supporting future doctors, but the shop is quiet and service is good. These young people are an example to follow.'

Despite accumulating debt—almost all initial costs were borrowed—the group's spirit remains strong. Saleh al-Abadla, who handles purchasing and supply, records every shekel in a small notebook and said: 'Self-reliance is no longer a choice in Gaza. It's a necessity. No one knows where Gaza is headed, but we build what we can, right now, with what we have.'