Before the conflict, Mohammed Hamouda and his wife, Dina, enjoyed strolls with their three children along the beaches of northern Gaza, creating cherished memories of swimming, savoring ice cream, and camel rides. Their simple and joyous life changed drastically with the onset of Israeli strikes on the enclave.
The family, now displaced to Rafah in southern Gaza, faces constant fear, particularly the children, Ella (6), Sila (4), and the youngest, Kareem (2). Recently learning that their home in Beit Lahia was destroyed, the children are grappling with the trauma. Ella, unaware of her friend Amira’s death, dreams of returning to the beach with her siblings and friends.
The overall situation for Palestinian children in Gaza is dire, marked by violence, homelessness, starvation, and disrupted education. The ongoing conflict has left many orphaned, and parents struggle to explain the turmoil to children psychologically affected by relentless bombardment.
As of the latest available figures from the Ministry of Health in Gaza and UN agencies, Israeli attacks have resulted in over 30,000 Palestinian casualties, with at least 12,550 children among them. The destruction of homes and neighborhoods has left nearly 30% of Gazans without a place to return to, and more than 60% of housing units are reported as either totally destroyed or partially damaged.
The plight of families like the Hamoudas, fearing nowhere left to flee, highlights the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and a resolution to the conflict for the sake of the vulnerable population in Gaza.
