Unrelenting Israeli Airstrikes Compound Mental Health Crisis for Gaza’s Youth
LONDON – The ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza has created a devastating humanitarian crisis, particularly affecting the mental health of Palestinian children who have been enduring the trauma of violence for over a decade.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip have reported that more than 2,300 children have tragically lost their lives in the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. The conflict was reignited following an assault by the Palestinian militant group on southern Israel on October 7.
Approximately 40 percent of Gaza’s population is under the age of 18, and according to UNICEF, an average of 400 children per day have been killed or injured during this violent period. Tragically, Save the Children fears that approximately 870 children remain trapped under the rubble of demolished structures.
Yet amid the physical injuries and loss of life, the emotional trauma experienced by the children of Gaza is often overlooked.
UNICEF, in a recent article titled “Child casualties in Gaza ‘a growing stain on our collective conscience’,” emphasized that nearly every child in the Gaza Strip has been exposed to distressing events and trauma. NPR reported that following the 2021 conflict, 91 percent of Gaza’s children had experienced post-traumatic stress.
Ayesha Kadir, a senior humanitarian health adviser at Save the Children, noted, “Children with conflict exposure have been found to have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic complaints. Children do not express psychological distress in a single way. Some may act out, while others may withdraw. They may exhibit behaviors below their age, experience bedwetting, have trouble sleeping, refuse to eat, or suffer from internalizing effects such as stomach aches or headaches. Not all children who experience trauma are traumatized, but the experience of conflict is a form of toxic stress, resulting in both physical and psychological harm.”
Furthermore, a report from Save the Children published last year indicated that more than half of the children in Gaza had suicidal thoughts, with three out of five engaging in self-harm. The recent surge in violence has not spared the children of Gaza, with UNICEF reporting that 30 children lost their lives in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Dozens more are either held hostage within Gaza or have family members in captivity.
Jeeda Al-Hakim, a specialist counseling psychologist at the City University of London, highlighted the physical manifestations of shock and trauma in children who have witnessed bombings, missile attacks, or the loss of family members. She explained that these children may experience uncontrollable shaking, muteness, emotional shutdown, or panic attacks. Trauma triggers the release of stress hormones, leading to physical problems such as headaches, stomach aches, rapid heart rate, and poor sleep.
Al-Hakim distinguished between shock and trauma, noting that shock is a state of dissociation, where the victim’s body and mind feel disconnected and nothing seems real, while trauma encompasses any sudden, terrible experience that disrupts one’s well-being and overwhelms them. She underlined that not all traumatic events cause shock, and not all instances of shock result from trauma.
Apart from direct exposure to violence, the mental health of Gaza’s children is also affected by events like forced displacement, limited access to basic necessities (education, healthcare, sanitation), or having a family member or friend experience violence directly. Kadir emphasized that both direct and indirect exposure can harm children’s mental health, even those living far from the conflict zone. These experiences can often compound each other.
Exposure to armed conflict can also lead to attachment disorders and give rise to nightmares, flashbacks, and persistent anxiety among children. These conditions can hinder their development and learning.
Hamzah Barhameyeh of World Vision Syria Response, an organization supporting vulnerable children in northwest Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, witnessed all these responses in children. He noted that disruptions in attachment to caregivers can hinder a child’s ability to form secure relationships, potentially leading to difficulties in forming relationships and feeling close to others.
The cessation of violence is the first step to addressing these issues, but the scars left on these young minds may remain unhealed. Al-Hakim warned that post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety disorders, physical complaints like headaches, and thoughts of suicide may persist even after the violence ends, as trauma can be passed down through generations.
Both Al-Hakim and Kadir pointed out that there are ways to mitigate these effects, starting with meeting the basic needs of children, such as shelter, food, safety, education, healthcare, clean water, and stability. While the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza recently reopened, delivering aid and medical supplies, the need for assistance remains critical.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the necessity of a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale required. At least 1.4 million of Gaza’s population are displaced, with approximately 580,000 people living in UN-run emergency shelters. Gaza urgently needs 100 aid trucks daily to address the rising needs.
UNICEF reported that “children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine, and safe access to hospitals” due to days of airstrikes and supply route disruptions.
To support child survivors of war, experts recommend meeting the basic needs of children and caregivers. Kadir highlighted the significant impact of caregiver physical and mental health on children’s well-being. Providing appropriate psychosocial support, supporting family and social networks, and restoring a sense of safety and normality, including schools and safe places for children to play, are vital for helping children cope.
In the aftermath of regional conflicts, adopting a public health approach is crucial. Al-Hakim stressed the importance of educating adults about child trauma to create safe, nurturing environments for recovery. Various therapies, including counseling, therapy groups, school programs, and community support, can help children process trauma, manage PTSD symptoms, and rebuild healthy development, coping skills, and hope. Efforts such as truth and reconciliation initiatives, accountability for crimes against children, and justice initiatives can support both individual and societal healing.
The impact of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on the mental health of Palestinian children is a pressing concern, and addressing their psychological well-being is an essential aspect of the broader humanitarian response to the crisis.
