Gaza: Palestinian children observed Palestinian Children's Day under the shadow of ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has been affecting the region since October 2023. On this day in 1995, during the first Palestinian Child Conference, late President Yasser Arafat declared the State of Palestine's commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, establishing April 5 as Palestinian Children's Day.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, this year's observance comes amidst continued Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have dramatically impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. The situation is dire, with many children experiencing extreme conditions due to the conflict.
In the sands of Al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, seven-year-old Ola Abu Jame begins her day drawing a house she once lived in, accompanied by a childlike chant. Her home in eastern Khan Younis was destroyed in an airstrike, resulting in the death of her parents and two siblings. She now resides with her ailing grandmother.
Ola's experience mirrors a broader reality for many. The Ministry of Social Development reports that over 64,000 Palestinian children have lost one or both parents since the war began, a significant increase from the 17,000 registered orphans before October 2023.
Children throughout Gaza confront a harsh reality marked by loss, displacement, illness, and ongoing insecurity. The ministry highlights the unprecedented humanitarian conditions these children face, including forced displacement, lack of shelter, disrupted education and healthcare, and severe shortages of food and medicine.
Aya Al-Najjar, a 10-year-old girl who lost her father when their Khan Younis home was bombed, reflects on how drastically her life has changed. She recalls a time when her family lived happily together, before the war took her father and destroyed their home. Aya expresses a simple wish for safety and to be with her mother and siblings once more.
The extent of loss is staggering. By February 2026, Gaza's Ministry of Health reported that 21,289 children had been killed since the war's onset, with more than 44,500 injured. Among the deceased are hundreds of newborns and infants under one year old.
Education has also suffered severely. Approximately 700,000 children have been deprived of formal schooling, with UNICEF estimating that around 90 percent of Gaza's schools have been damaged or destroyed.
Celine Saeed, a twelve-year-old, wishes to return to a classroom, to see a teacher and a blackboard, and to hold a pen again. She is among those attending makeshift schools in displacement camps in southern Gaza, which only partially meet the overwhelming educational needs.
In March 2026, 11 premature infants returned to Gaza after spending over two years in Egypt for medical care following the 2023 evacuation of Al-Shifa Hospital. This included two-year-old Sham, who was reunited with her mother for the first time since birth, marking an emotional moment after years of separation.
The war has also severely impacted newborns. Health data reveals that one in five infants now requires intensive care due to low birth weight, attributed to maternal malnutrition, chronic stress, and inadequate healthcare during pregnancy.
Displacement remains widespread, with over 1.9 million people in Gaza forced to flee, many multiple times, as they navigate evacuation orders. Families live in overcrowded shelters and worn-out tents, facing hunger, lack of clean water, and the spread of diseases.
Adam Shaqlia, a twelve-year-old, describes the repeated displacement across Gaza, with his family moving from the north to Khan Younis, back north, and then south again, never finding stability or safety.
Beyond physical hardship, the psychological toll is severe. A United Nations Population Fund report describes the situation as a deep mental health emergency. Data shows that 96 percent of children in Gaza feel death is imminent, while many suffer from post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety.
Mohammad Zarab, a displaced child, recalls losing his parents and younger sister when their home was destroyed. He dreams of their return, only to be awakened by the sound of airstrikes. He no longer fears death but fears forgetting their faces.
Officials from Gaza's Ministry of Social Development have called for urgent international intervention, including support for orphans, rebuilding child-focused infrastructure, and expanding psychological care programs.
As crossings remain restricted and aid limited, these appeals face significant hurdles. For Gaza's children, this day is not only one of remembrance but also a reminder of an uncertain future, where safety, stability, and basic rights remain out of reach.
