The humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip is escalating with the ongoing Israeli war, which has turned the lives of children into a daily hell. Youngsters have become direct victims of systematic destruction and the loss of basic necessities. Amidst the tight siege and the absence of any horizon for reconstruction, thousands of children find themselves forced to abandon their schooling and head to the destroyed streets in search of a livelihood.
Field sources observed a grim scene of dozens of children lining the roads, waiting for trucks loaded with the rubble of destroyed homes to pass. These children chase the flying debris in search of metal scraps or materials that can be sold, risking their lives amidst the high speed of the trucks and the accumulation of unstable rubble that could collapse on them at any moment.
This deterioration comes at a time when the destruction of most educational facilities in the Strip has led to children being absent from their schools, shifting the focus entirely to survival rather than academic achievement. The remaining schools have been converted into overcrowded shelters for displaced persons, depriving the younger generation of their right to formal education for the third consecutive year.
Field estimates indicate that the child labor rate in Gaza has jumped to record levels exceeding 80%, a massive increase compared to the pre-war period. These young children are forced to perform arduous tasks beyond their physical capabilities, such as collecting firewood and plastic materials from landfills, to secure the minimum needs of their displaced families.
On the health front, children in the Strip live in a contaminated environment lacking hygiene and safe drinking water, leading to hospitals being filled with cases of skin and intestinal diseases. Medical reports confirm that severe malnutrition has begun to ravage the bodies of young children, amidst a severe shortage of nutritional supplements and essential medicines to treat the epidemics spreading in displacement camps.
United Nations data reveals shocking figures, with approximately 660,000 children currently completely out of the education system, threatening the future of an entire generation. Statistics also recorded the martyrdom and injury of more than 50,000 children since the outbreak of confrontations until mid-2025, a toll that reflects the extent of direct targeting of civilians.
In a related context, about 1,500 children with serious injuries or chronic diseases are awaiting the opportunity to travel abroad for treatment, but the closure of crossings and the lack of medical resources prevent this. These children face the risk of slow death inside hospitals suffering from dilapidated equipment, continuous power outages, and a shortage of specialized staff.
For his part, Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network, explained that the phenomenon of child labor has become prevalent in all areas of the Strip without exception as a result of the comprehensive economic collapse. Al-Shawa affirmed in statements to media sources that children are the weakest link in this catastrophe, as a series of illnesses and deep psychological crises begin with them.
Children constitute about 47% of the total population of the Gaza Strip, making them the most affected group by the war of extermination that has left massive destruction in infrastructure and homes. Approximately 1.9 million displaced persons currently live in dilapidated tents lacking the simplest standards of human dignity, where children face the cold of winter and the heat of summer without cover or shelter to protect them.
In addition to physical suffering, the psychological crisis stands out as one of the most dangerous consequences of the war, with a UN report issued in November 2025 indicating that 93% of Gaza children suffer from behavioral and aggressive disorders. These psychological traumas resulting from scenes of death and destruction require urgent international intervention to save what remains of Palestinian childhood before it is too late.
Gaza's children have paid the highest price for the war; they have been deprived of education for the third consecutive year and live in an environment lacking the most basic health requirements.
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Gaza Children Chase Rubble Trucks: A Daily Struggle for Survival Amidst the Wreckage of War