After years of escalating conflict, Gaza was plunged into a brutal war that has devastated the lives of millions of people. For the past two years, childhood in Gaza has been reduced to survival, marked by bombings, displacement, hunger, and constant fear.
Families now live in overcrowded shelters or makeshift tents, and queuing for food and water has taken the place of learning and games. The trauma every child is experiencing today will shape their futures in ways we are yet to understand.
Every child, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to live in peace and have a safe place to live, learn and play.
20,000
Nearly 20,000 children in Gaza have lost their lives in two years of war.
56,000
More than 56,000 children have lost one or both parents in two years of war.
Behind every number is a child enduring unimaginable suffering – each with a name, a family, and dreams for a brighter future, now overshadowed by war. This photo series offers a glimpse into the daily reality of Gaza’s children, revealing the true human cost through their eyes.
Childhoods shattered by a relentless war
"My day starts with waiting in the long water lines, then going to collect papers and wood to use for cooking. My life before the war was beautiful. I used to go to school early in the morning, and when I came back, I would rest a little and then play with the kids from my neighborhood in the street before doing my homework. "
"At around 1:30 a.m., our shelter was directly bombed. They pulled Moaz, who is 14 and a half, out, but he was gone ... Yehya’s condition was also very critical, but the doctors managed to operate on his left leg. Nour had lost both her legs and her right hand. I sat by her side, telling her everything will go back to normal, that we will travel abroad and get her new legs and a hand. She just keeps asking me about her brother Moaz."
"Despite all words and media coverage, silence prevails as people are killed and displaced. We are human; we have the right to life, safety, and dignity. We are not asking the impossible, just stop these massacres."
"My son woke up in the morning and went to fetch water for us. While he was waiting in line, a quadcopter came and dropped a bomb on them. My son and many other children waiting in line were injured, and another child was killed. Now my son’s body is full of shrapnel. He was injured in the head, and a piece of shrapnel is lodged inside his head, causing internal bleeding."
"Isra and her five children made the long journey on foot from Gaza City to the south, pushing a trailer of their few belongings. They were walking into the unknown. The children with no shoes. Isra with no clear destination and all with so little hope of finding solace."
"We were at home when we were suddenly struck by a missile. My wife was killed instantly along with our younger daughter Salma, who was only five years old. Hala suffered a spinal fracture and a broken pelvis. She can no longer stand. She also has abdominal injuries from shrapnel. I was injured too, and so was her 15-year-old brother, Mahmoud. Our family used to be five. Today, we are only three."
"When I gave birth, my baby weighed 4 kilos and was very healthy. Now she is more than a year old and weighs only 5 kilos. Mohammed, my other child, lost all his hair because of malnutrition. Both he and his sister are constantly sick, weak, and exhausted. I am also malnourished. We rely on the community kitchen, and when there is food, it is very little. Mostly one meal a day of rice or lentils and even then, I often give it to my children and go without so they can eat."
"I liked my life before the war. But now it is very difficult. I wake up in the morning and have to search for water and things to burn, to cook food. In the past, I used to wake up and go to school. I was very happy then. My father used to buy me pretty clothes for Eid."
"Children are not political actors. They do not start conflicts, and they are powerless to stop them. But they suffer greatly, and they wonder why the world has failed them. And make no mistake, we have failed them."
"I’ve sat with families where children go to bed crying from hunger and wake up crying from hunger. Parents tell me the hardest part is not their own empty stomachs, but not being able to provide the most basic of food."
"When the ceasefire was announced [in January 2025], my family and I went straight back to the northern Gaza Strip, but we found our home completely burned. Even my bicycle was lying in the street among the rubble, burned. I am heartbroken because I found nothing—none of my books, toys, clothes, bed, or even my bicycle."
"My job is to search for water. After that, I go look for food at the food distribution centers. Our life before the war was beautiful. We used to go to school, to children’s amusement parks, and to the sea. We were fine. I wish for the war to end. I don’t want to have to flee again."
"The reality for children in this crisis is brutal. For almost two full years these children, through no fault of their own, have endured unimaginable war atrocities. Children who once looked to their parents for safety and security have realised their mums and dads are no longer able to protect them. That is a horrifying thing for a kid."
How UNICEF is helping
Despite the immense challenges, UNICEF is on the ground providing lifesaving support to children and their families – delivering nutrition, clean water, medicine, vaccines, tents and other essentials to families who have been displaced from their homes. Our teams are also setting up safe spaces where children can learn, play and receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma of war. At the same time, UNICEF is working with partners to restore critical services like healthcare and sanitation.
UNICEF is once again urging parties to the conflict to end the violence, and states with influence over parties to the conflict to use their leverage and influence to end the conflict. International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties, allowing the immediate provision of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages, and the protection of civilians from attacks. The daily suffering and killing of children must end immediately.
Children of Gaza Crisis
The ceasefire brings hope for children in Gaza, but the needs remain urgent. Help us scale up our response.
Related articles
Stay up-to-date on UNICEF's work in Australia and around the world
