A UNICEF spokesperson has warned that more than one million children in the Gaza Strip are enduring severe psychological trauma following 15 months of relentless deprivation and violence under the Israeli occupation.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Tess Ingram detailed the dire humanitarian situation facing Palestinian families in the beleaguered enclave.

"One million children in the Gaza Strip suffer from psychological trauma," Ingram stated, underscoring that the daily reality for Gaza’s youth is marked by fear, loss, and an environment of constant instability. "The living conditions facing families in Gaza are dangerous; they need access to drinking water, critical aid supplies, and blankets to survive," she added.

Although approximately 10,000 aid trucks have reached Gaza since the first six-week phase of the ceasefire took effect on January 19, the support remains grossly insufficient to reverse the devastation wrought over the past 15 months. The ceasefire, which temporarily halted Israel’s brutal assault—a campaign that claimed more than 47,500 lives and left the Strip in ruins—has not yet brought relief to the traumatized population.

Ingram warned that if Gaza’s desalination plants are not fully operational, the children of the Strip could soon face even more serious health risks. Yet, amid these hardships, she noted that the resilient people of Gaza are determined to decide their own future and rebuild what has been destroyed.

International outcry has grown over the continuing crisis in Gaza. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former army minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the territory—a move that underscores the global demand for accountability.

The enduring trauma of Gaza’s children and the profound deprivation of its people serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for expanded humanitarian aid and a genuine commitment from the international community to restore dignity and security to the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)