Gaza Herald – The repercussions of Israel’s genocidal war continue to weigh heavily on children in Gaza, many of whom have lost significant hearing due to constant explosions and a severe lack of medical resources.
The story of six-year-old Sundus illustrates the daily struggles: she has lost about 50% of her hearing, affecting her communication with family, peers, and her ability to attend school. Although she recently received a hearing aid, her condition requires a cochlear implant, unavailable in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on medical device imports.
Doctors report that thousands of children urgently need hearing interventions, yet basic medical aids like hearing devices remain scarce and difficult to bring into the territory. Other cases, such as Sami, show the ongoing challenges: after months of waiting, he finally received a hearing aid and can hear partially, but the lack of comprehensive medical services limits his recovery.
According to the “Our Children for the Deaf” organization, around 35,000 civilians in Gaza have either lost their hearing or are at risk of doing so. Meanwhile, approximately 1.9 million Palestinian displaced persons live in dilapidated tents, deprived of basic necessities, as the blockade continues to prevent the entry of medical and humanitarian aid despite the ceasefire agreement in October 2025.
The Israeli genocide has claimed more than 72,000 lives, injured roughly 172,000, and destroyed nearly 90% of civilian infrastructure, leaving children to face a harsh and traumatic reality both physically and psychologically.
