Gaza social ministry counts 54,468 children without parents since 2023

The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development reports that 54,468 children in the Gaza Strip have lost one or both parents since October 2023. The ministry states that these figures do not account for children bereaved in earlier Israeli military operations. Across the territory, the total number of orphaned children stands at 71,000, while at least 64,000 women are widows.

These numbers reflect a shift in household economic structures. When a father dies, the financial burden typically falls to a mother or grandmother who often lacks a formal job or reliable income. The ministry's registration system indicates that approximately 3,000 children currently have no registered guardian, custodian, or caregiver to provide for them.

Mariam, 16, Aya, 14, and Jebril, 12, exemplify the new reality for many families. The siblings lost their father, Islam Abu Asser, during the 2014 offensive. After their home in Gaza City was destroyed in 2023, they lived with their mother in a tent in Deir al-Balah. On the 19th day after the ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025, an Israeli bomb struck the tent, killing their mother in front of them.

The children now move every two days from one aunt's tent to another. Their aunt, Warda al-Muzeini, lost her husband in an air strike and raises four children alone. She reports that she struggles to provide even one meal a day. The siblings rotate between their maternal aunts, spending two nights at each location. Jebril was injured when the bomb struck his mother and has no stable home.

The aunts share the cost of basic necessities. One aunt buys pyjamas, another provides slippers, and a third gives the children pocket money for a few days. This fragmented support system replaces the steady income that a single parent once provided. The family structure has dissolved into a network of temporary shelters and shared expenses.

Aziza al-Kahlout, a spokesperson for the ministry, stated that the statistics do not capture the daily suffering. She noted that a child who loses both parents loses care, safety, and education. She added that these children are forced to carry responsibilities far beyond their years. Women who become the sole breadwinners face the double burden of providing for children and raising them amid devastation.

Al-Kahlout warned of growing risks for child labor, school dropout, and early marriage. She attributed these trends to poverty, displacement, and the loss of family breadwinners. She said orphaned children are especially exposed as economic conditions worsen and adequate shelter remains scarce. The data suggests a direct link between household income loss and child welfare indicators.

Wafaa al-Attar, now 13, lost her entire family on 22 February 2024. She was 10 years old when she left home to charge her father's phone at her uncle's house in Deir al-Balah. An air strike hit the multi-storey building, killing her father Ahmed, her mother Khouloud, and her four siblings. The children were Rital, 8, Muhammed, 5, Obada, 3, and Yazan, 9 months.

Attar suffered minor shrapnel injuries and was taken to hospital. She asked about her family until her uncle arrived and confirmed their deaths. She then stayed with her grandparents before moving in with her uncle, his wife, and their newborn. Attar stated that for months she wished she had been in the house when it was bombed. She said her uncle's wife reminded her that her father would want her to stay strong, but she knows no one could replace her own family.