Saba Rabah, an 18-year-old student from central Gaza, ranked first nationwide in the June 2026 Palestinian Tawjihi high school exams in the science stream with a score of 99.9 percent, the highest recorded mark [1, 2, 3].
The Tawjihi exams, taken by about 89,000 students this year including over 25,000 in the science stream, were the first held in Gaza since the conflict erupted in October 2023 [3]. The war severely damaged or destroyed most schools in Gaza, leaving many students without access to formal education [3].
Since the start of the war, Rabah's family has been displaced multiple times. Their home was demolished in January 2024 after Israeli forces entered the Al-Maghazi refugee camp [3]. Just days before her final exams in June 2026, a house opposite her temporary home was bombed, forcing the family to flee again [1, 3].
Rabah lost her father, Fayed Rabah, a UNRWA school teacher, in an Israeli airstrike in June 2024 [3]. She dedicated her achievement to her late father, as well as her mother, siblings, and teachers, and her family and community celebrated her success [3]. Rabah said, "I achieved a score of 99.9 per cent, ranking first in the nation in the science stream" and recalled, "My father was a teacher at UNRWA schools" [3].
The sustained fighting and destruction in Gaza heavily disrupted education. The Tawjihi exams tested tens of thousands under unstable conditions, highlighting Rabah's exceptional resilience and determination [3].
Rabah’s performance marks a milestone as the national exams resume in Gaza amid ongoing conflict and challenges. The Palestinian education authorities are preparing to announce official results and next steps for university admissions following the June 2026 Tawjihi exams.
