Teaching Under Fire: Arab Teachers’ Emotional Resilience During the 2023–2025 Gaza War

This qualitative study examines how Arab teachers in high schools in northern Israel experienced the sociopolitical crisis following the October 7th attacks and the 2023–2025 Gaza War. Based on in-depth interviews with 15 educators, the research reveals how teachers balanced emotional turmoil, remote teaching challenges, and identity dilemmas within a predominantly Jewish educational framework. Key findings include emotional fatigue, the burden of emotional support, limited institutional backing, and the reliance on community networks. The study underscores Arab teachers’ dual role as educators and cultural-emotional anchors and calls for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed educational policies that support teachers’ identities during national conflict.