Anas Al-Qanou’ defending his PhD dissertation amid the debris. Photo: Anas Al-Qanou’

Anas Al-Qanou’, 37 years old, a university professor and academic researcher from Jabalia in northern Gaza, holds a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Gaza, where he also served as a lecturer.  Al-Qanou’ authored 27 specialized research papers in physics, and in 2019, his research in nanophysics received the International Publication Award from the Islamic University of Gaza.

In 2021, Al-Qanou’ received a scholarship from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Malaysia. The scholarship was specifically for pursuing a PhD, which he dedicated to the field of nanophysics.  Al-Qanou’ taught in the university’s laboratories and worked on the fabrication of silver nanowires.

By mid-2023, he had completed the practical part of his research, so he decided to visit his family in Gaza and focus on writing his dissertation there.  Every morning, Anas would rise early, share breakfast with his family, and then head to the university. Conversations with his family often revolved around current affairs, their dreams, and their ambitions for the future.  In Gaza, it’s a daily ritual: before work or school, families gather over a delicious breakfast, accompanied by the aromatic mint tea that fills the home.

But on the morning of October 7, 2023, Anas’s life took a drastic turn. The outbreak of war abruptly disrupted his academic journey. The border crossings  were closed, and Anas found himself trapped in Gaza, unable to travel to Malaysia to continue his doctoral studies.  “I had only completed a quarter of my PhD when I came to visit my family in Gaza,” Anas recalls.

With countless others he faced waves of displacement, the constant threat of death, and the deafening sounds of missiles filling the skies. The fear of losing someone weighed heavier than anything he had ever known.  But in January 2024, Anas made a resolute decision: to resume his research and complete his studies despite the chaos around him. With no reliable internet or electricity, the odds were stacked against him. But nothing is stronger than the determination of a Palestinian who believes that knowledge is the most powerful weapon against oppression.

To power his laptop, Anas relied on solar energy. He later visited his cousin, explaining that the lack of internet access was his biggest hurdle. In a generous act of support, his cousin offered him access to an electronic SIM card—known locally as the “eSIM” — a rare commodity in Gaza, only compatible with iPhone and Ultra devices. Anas didn’t own a device that could use the eSIM, but his cousin did. So, every day, Anas would travel to his cousin’s home, spending long hours away from his family.

By mid-April 2024, the day of his PhD defense finally arrived. He powered his laptop using solar panels and connected to the internet through his cousin’s device.

“The defense was scheduled for 4 a.m.,” Anas shared. “I chose to present my research from inside my destroyed home in Jabalia.”

He managed to sit at his desk with his laptop in a partially damaged room surrounded by debris. Despite all the difficulties Al-Qanou’ faced while writing and presenting his dissertation in Gaza, his research was exceptionally distinguished. It received only very minor revisions, and according to the evaluation of the examiners, it was considered one of the best research papers ever discussed.

Al-Qanou’ described to me the loss of his mentor, Dr. Sufian Tayeh, who was martyred on December 2, 2023, in one of the greatest losses the Palestinian people have endured. Dr. Tayeh was president of the Islamic University of Gaza, and an internationally prominent researcher in physics and applied mathematics. Al-Qanou’ affirmed that he continually strives to follow Dr. Tayeh’s scientific path.

Al-Qanou’ currently serves as the Head of the Physics Department at the Islamic University of Gaza. He teaches specialized physics courses to university students online from within a tent he erected in October 2024. After being displaced from his home in Jabalia, he relocated to western Gaza. In mid-January 2025, Al-Qanou’ returned to his home only to find it reduced to a pile of rubble. He lost all his memories, books, and personal belongings.

For 20 consecutive days, Al-Qanou’ worked tirelessly to clear the debris and set up a tent in its place. He now continues his academic work from that tent, dedicating his time to supporting the master’s students who were previously taught and supervised by the late Dr. Sufian Tayeh.

Anas Al-Qanou’s story is not just about academic success—it’s a story of steadfastness, of triumph over tragedy, and of one man’s refusal to let war silence the pursuit of knowledge. His message to the world is clear: We will never give up. We will keep trying to achieve our dreams. We will not surrender.