GAZA: After 1,000 Days of War, Gaza’s Children Dream of Home and a Better Future

GAZA (July 2, 2026) – After 1,000 days of war, children in Gaza have lost homes, schools and a sense of safety, but many have told Save the Children that they have not lost hope for the future.

At least  21,000 children are confirmed to have been killed by the Israeli forces since the start of the war in October 2023, with an additional unknown number of children buried under rubble. Over 800,000 children – the vast majority of children in Gaza – are displaced, and it's estimated that more than 7,000 are separated from family.

The conflict began with the atrocities committed in Israel on October 7, 2023. The deadly violence included the abduction of children and adults as hostages. One thousand days later, the definitive ceasefire that would truly protect children remains unrealized

The ongoing violence continues to terrify children, with the United Nations Population Fund reporting that 96% of children in Gaza feel that death is imminent.

In personal testimonies, children supported by Save the Children said that they wanted people to hear their stories of how the war was impacting them and realize that they wanted to be treated like any other child – with a home, an education, and a safe future.  

"We could die at any moment. I hope the war stops for us," Amani*, a 14-year-old Palestinian girl, said. "I hope the war stops so that I can continue my education in Gaza and live my rights as a human like any girl in other countries. I would like to live with love, peace, and an easy life. There are many children in Gaza whose voices are not heard."

Bisan*, 14, said: "My wish is for the war to stop, for every one of us to return to their home, and for our lives to return to how they were."

Reem*, 16, told Save the Children that she had many dreams for her future and would not give those up, wanting to fulfil her mother’s dream of becoming a doctor.  

"The most important thing is for my voice and others to reach everyone, so people know what we're going through. I have many, many dreams. Even before the war I always dreamed of traveling and studying abroad. That hasn't changed. I still hold onto that dream. l will travel and continue my education."  

Food insecurity is also ravaging children in Gaza, with an estimated 245,000 children in Gaza at risk of or affected by malnutrition. The flow of humanitarian aid remains limited, food prices are unaffordable for most families, and available food lacks proper nutrition.  

Ahlam*, 36, a mother of twins suffering from malnutrition, says: "The children need food, but I have nothing. I do not have the money to buy them anything. Since January, I have been looking for food for them. They are in pain from time to time. They are not growing normally."

Since the declaration of a ceasefire last October, more than 265 children have been reported killed by the Israeli forces. Recently, an eight-year-old boy was reported killed when an Israeli drone hit tents sheltering displaced people in Deir el –Balah in central Gaza. A 13-year-old girl was killed by shrapnel from Israeli tank shelling at the weekend in southern Gaza. Last month 18-year-old Raghad Ashour was killed by an Israeli strike on her way to take her high school exams.

Palestinians are being pushed inside less than 40% of Gaza’s territory behind the "Yellow Line". The "Yellow Line" has also reportedly shifted, expanding the area under Israeli military control and further shrinking the space available to Palestinian families.  

Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, Ahmad Ahendawi, said:    

"Every day for the past 1,000 days, the world has failed one million children in Gaza by not intervening to stop the killing and maiming of children.  

"As their young fragile bodies were blown to bits and pieces by bombs and missiles, the world sold those same weapons to the Government of Israel. As children died from hunger and disease, the Government of Israel failed to live up to its legal obligations to provide humanitarian access, including sufficient nutritious food into Gaza, and the world continued trade agreements with the Government of Israel.  

"Even nine months since a 'ceasefire' when over 275 children have been killed by the Israeli forces, the world continues to ignore the voices and needs of children as they simply demand that they be treated like any other child in the world."

Save the Children is calling for the "ceasefire" agreement to become an immediate and definitive ceasefire as the first step to save lives and end grave violations of children’s rights.  There must be full accountability for crimes against children. Those responsible must be investigated and held to account, to break the cycle of impunity and prevent further harm.  

Save the Children is calling on governments to immediately suspend the transfer of arms to Israel and ensure that they do not support or sustain unlawful practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. Member States must also ban trade, economic cooperation and services that maintain or support illegal Israeli settlements, in line with the International Court of Justice’s 2024 Advisory Opinion. This would represent a necessary step to end the systematic violation of Palestinian children's fundamental rights.

*Names changed to protect identity

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Notes:

1. Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. We work with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for young people.

Together with our partners, Save the Children helped nearly 890,000 people in the oPt in 2025, including almost 430,000 children. As of May 2026, we have supported over 218,000 people, including over 107,000 children in Gaza, through our multisectoral programming.

We have been responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza directly and through our partnerships with local organizations. In Gaza, we're currently, running two health clinics, 15 nutrition points, water and sanitation services (8 hygiene promotion sites, 59 water trucking sites, 49 sanitation facilities, and 39 solid waste management points), child protection programs including mental health support and case management at 21 sites, education in 63 temporary learning spaces, and cash transfer programs to support families whose livelihoods have been decimated.

2. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) expected to be published in early July will provide more details about the malnutrition crisis facing children in Gaza.  

3. According to UNOCHA, the occupied Palestinian territory flash appeal is only 12–24% funded against a minimum need of $2 billion. Humanitarian donors must urgently scale up their funding to the response to meet the needs of children and families in Gaza.