54,000 Gaza children left without parents

The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development in Gaza reports that 54,468 children have lost at least one parent since the conflict began in October 2023. The ministry's data indicates that the territory now includes at least 64,000 widows and 71,000 orphaned children, a total that encompasses those bereaved in previous military campaigns.

Three siblings in Gaza City demonstrate the instability of their living conditions. Mariam, 16, Aya, 14, and Jebril, 12, lost their mother, Islam, on the 19th day after the ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025. An Israeli bomb struck their temporary tent in Deir al-Balah, killing her in front of the children. The family had previously lost their father during the 2014 offensive.

Aunt Warda al-Muzeini says the siblings have no permanent residence. They rotate between their maternal aunts, spending two nights with each, and mostly stay with their paternal grandmother. Jebril sustained injuries when the blast occurred. Muzeini, who lost her own husband in an air strike, raises four children without a job. She states that she often struggles to provide a single meal per day, while her sisters split costs for clothing and pocket money.

Aziza al-Kahlout, a spokesperson for the ministry, stated that the figures do not reflect the daily hardships these families face. She explained that children who lose both parents lose their primary source of care and safety. These children are also deprived of education and childhood, forced to assume adult responsibilities at a young age. Women who become the sole breadwinners must provide for their families while raising them in devastated areas.

Kahlout warned of increasing risks of child labour, school dropout, and early marriage. She attributed these trends to poverty, displacement, and the loss of family income. She noted that orphaned children face greater exposure as economic conditions worsen and shelter remains scarce.

Wafaa al-Attar, 13, lost her entire immediate family in a single air strike on 22 February 2024. She left her home in Deir al-Balah to charge her father's phone at her uncle's house. The strike killed her father, Ahmed, her mother, Khouloud, and her four siblings, who were aged between nine months and eight years. Attar suffered minor shrapnel injuries and was hospitalized before learning of their deaths.

Attar initially lived with her grandparents before moving in with her uncle, his wife, and their newborn child. She described spending months wishing she had been in the house when it was destroyed. Her uncle's wife told her that her father would want her to remain strong. Attar said she knows that no one can replace her own family.