Israel’s war in Gaza pushes thousands of children into adult responsibilities, depriving them of education and childhood
In the streets of Gaza City, 15-year-old Mohammed Ashour carries thermoses of coffee, calling out to passersby in hopes someone will buy a cup. At his age, Mohammed should be in school, learning and playing with friends. Instead, he has been forced to become the breadwinner for his family after his father was killed in Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
“This burden isn’t mine to carry,” Mohammed tells Al Jazeera. “This work is exhausting, but I have to do it to support my siblings.”
Mohammed is not alone. With at least 39,000 children losing one or both parents in the conflict, and Gaza’s economy devastated, children as young as eight are stepping into adult roles. They are leaving education behind, taking jobs to ensure their families survive, and losing their childhood in the process.
Family struggles drive children to work
Mohammed’s mother, Atad Ashour, says she knows her son should be in school, but the family has no alternative. “After his father was killed, we had no income. My older sons couldn’t find work, and I couldn’t provide,” she says. “He’s still a child, but he carries responsibilities that aren’t his. The circumstances forced us into this.”
Aid agencies confirm that children are bearing the brunt of the conflict. “We’re seeing more children scavenging for scrap, selling coffee, and taking on work they shouldn’t have to,” said Tess Ingram, a UNICEF spokesperson. UNICEF and partner organizations are working to provide cash assistance, educate families about the risks of child labor, and help children return to school.
Rachel Cummings, Gaza humanitarian director for Save the Children, emphasizes the impact of family breakdown. “The whole family structure is disrupted, and children are very vulnerable. This precarious situation is taking a massive toll on their well-being.”
A generation at risk
Nearly half of Gaza’s population is under 18. More than 660,000 children are out of formal education, while around 132,000 face acute malnutrition. For children like Mohammed, the daily grind of work replaces school and play. Walking home past a school at the end of another long day, he wistfully reflects, “If my father were alive, I would be at home going to school.”
The war’s toll on Gaza’s children is stark. Families are struggling, aid is limited, and the youngest residents are forced to grow up too quickly. Their resilience is remarkable, but the world is being asked to notice, respond, and help safeguard their future.
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