Tel Aviv : With over 20,000 Palestinians, including women and children, killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a bloody conflict with Hamas in Gaza, survivors’ mental health, particularly that of the younger generation, has yet to heal.
The Israel army began airstrikes on October 27 while the IDF invaded Gaza, killing Palestinians, following Hamas’s October 7 attack on South Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives.
Children, including infants, continue to be the main victims of the IDF’s killing and retaliation operations inside Gaza.
Almost all the hospitals in Gaza have either been damaged or rendered dysfunctional by the incessant IDF aerial bombings. This has led to a catastrophic situation leaving thousands of Palestinians without any medical attention.
The psychological trauma and mental health issues faced by Palestinians cannot be fathomed and the doctors in Gaza — who treated children facing the traumatic experience — said that the mental health conditions of many children remains worse.
Dr Majid Al Qasmi who is running a clinic in central Gaza told IANS over phone that the condition of children is pathetic and they (children) may not be able to recover from this trauma during their lifetime.
He said that several children — in the age group of 8-12 — have faced situations wherein they escaped from death by a whisker. He said that many of these children have seen their dear and near ones dying in front of their eyes, leading to mental scars which they may be unable to erase from their memories.
Ayesha Fatima, 12, was content with her life in central Gaza until the Israeli army ordered her and her family to relocate south. Dr. Qasmi stated, “The IDF struck in south the day she moved to her uncle’s residence, turning her uncle’s place into rubble and killing the entire family.”
He claimed that Fatima’s depression was brought on by the deaths of her relatives.
Numerous children are suffering from psychological trauma as a result of the conflict in Palestine, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Children of Palestinian origin have experienced trauma as a result of their family’s relocation from northern to central, and eventually southern, Gaza.
According to a senior official who spoke with IANS, the situation in Gaza is dire and children continue to be the main victims.
“After witnessing a carnage, a number of children require psychological and mental health support.” Under the debris, many children have perished. Not even their bodies could be found. These children’s siblings have experienced psychological trauma. Since practically all hospitals have been destroyed, there are no appropriate facilities for treating their mental health issues, the official stated.
With no serious efforts coming up to end the war, the situation in Gaza has turned worse. There is a general feeling among Palestinians that there has to be an immediate international intervention to put an end to the children trauma.
Read More
Israel agrees to week-long ceasefire for hostage release
