Why this crisis is a war on children, and what you can do to help.
For decades, the conflict between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory has shaped daily life for millions of children. In Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territories, two years of intense escalation have pushed an already-dire situation into what is now a war on children.
The humanitarian impact
Palestinian children have paid the highest price in this war. After years of blockade and repeated escalations, large parts of Gaza have been destroyed, families have been displaced again and again, and essential services have broken down.
According to figures cited by our teams, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, including more than 20,000 children, and almost every child in Gaza has been forced from their home at least once. Many have lost parents, siblings, neighbours and friends.
Children tell our staff about the constant fear, nightmares, and the stress of not knowing where they will sleep, what they will eat, or whether they will see their loved ones again.
How conflict cuts children off from healthcare
In Gaza, the health system has been pushed to the brink. Hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed. Those that are still functioning are overwhelmed and running dangerously low on medicines, fuel and equipment.
This breakdown is especially deadly for children. Newborns and premature babies rely on incubators and specialist care. Children with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart problems need regular medication. When health facilities are damaged, besieged or without power, these basic services become life-threateningly scarce.
Famine was officially confirmed in Gaza in August 2025, with children dying from malnutrition and other preventable causes. Hundreds of thousands of children are now at risk due to hunger and disease. Children’s weakened immune systems leave them vulnerable to diarrhoea, respiratory infections and other preventable illnesses.
Education under attack: when classrooms fall silent
Education is a fundamental right as per UNCRC Article 28, yet for many Palestinian children it has been repeatedly interrupted or completely stopped. Schools in Gaza have been destroyed or are being used as shelters for displaced families. In the West Bank, school closures, movement restrictions and insecurity mean children can’t always reach the classroom.
The impact of this goes far beyond missed lessons. School is where children learn, play, see their friends and regain a sense of normal life. When education is disrupted for months or years, children fall behind, are more likely to drop out, and face a higher risk of child labour, early marriage and long-term poverty.
Save the Children teams report that some children haven’t set foot in a classroom since the escalation began. Others are trying to learn in makeshift spaces, tents, damaged buildings or crowded shelters, with few books or learning materials.
No place is safe: growing up amid constant danger
Every child has the right to be safe. In this conflict, that right is routinely violated.
Children in Gaza live with the daily threat of airstrikes, shelling, and collapsing buildings. Even after fighting moves on, unexploded weapons can lie hidden in the rubble, putting children at risk as they play, collect water or search for firewood.
Displacement also brings new dangers: families crowd into temporary shelters or damaged buildings with little privacy or protection; and overstretched caregivers, lack of income and extreme stress can increase the risk of violence, exploitation, early marriage and child labour.
The psychological toll is immense. Many children show signs of trauma, trouble sleeping, withdrawal, or fear of being alone. Without support, these experiences can have lifelong effects on mental health and development.
How Save the Children is supporting children and families
Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territories for decades and has been responding to the current crisis from the outset, supporting children and families in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider region.
Working closely with local partners, our teams are:
- providing emergency food assistance, cash transfers and livelihood support so families can buy what they most urgently need.
- supporting health facilities with equipment, medicines and mobile health teams, and treating children suffering from acute malnutrition.
- trucking clean water and distributing hygiene kits to help prevent disease outbreaks.
- setting up child-friendly spaces and temporary learning centres so children can play, learn and receive psychosocial support in safer environments.
- offering specialised child protection services for children who are separated from family members, at risk of exploitation, or dealing with trauma.
- advocating for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access and the protection of children in line with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Every intervention is designed with children’s rights at its core, their right to survive, to learn and to be protected.
What you can do to help provide emergency relief for children
The scale of need can feel overwhelming, but there are concrete ways you can support children in conflict zones like Gaza and the West Bank.
- Donate to our Gaza Emergency Appeal. Financial support allows us to respond quickly with food, clean water, healthcare, education and protection services where they are needed most.
- Raise awareness. Share credible information about the impact of the conflict between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on children. Keeping children’s experiences at the centre of the conversation helps build public support for humanitarian access and child-focused solutions.
- Advocate for children’s rights. Add your voice to calls for a lasting ceasefire, protection of civilians, and full respect for international humanitarian law.
Children did not start this conflict, yet they are paying the highest price. By learning about the crisis and taking action, you can stand in solidarity with children in Gaza, the West Bank and across the region, helping them not only to survive, but to rebuild their lives with hope and dignity.