Over 57,000 Palestinian Children Orphaned in Gaza Crisis
Over 57,000 children are orphaned in Gaza, with thousands of widows and families affected.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian children have been orphaned amid ongoing conflict. Photo: UNICEF
April 2, 2026 Hour: 5:35 am
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Palestinian authorities report mass orphaning and widows amid Israeli military actions.
More than 57,000 Palestinian children have lost one or both parents due to sustained Israeli attacks, with thousands of families destroyed and humanitarian conditions deteriorating across Gaza.
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The Palestinian Ministry of Health’s Palestinian Information Center for Health (PICN) reported that 57,000 children in Gaza are now orphaned. According to PICN director Zaher Al-Wahidi, 49,000 lost their fathers, 5,000 lost their mothers, and 3,000 lost both parents. In addition, 2,600 families were entirely wiped out, 5,000 lost nearly all members, and 6,000 experienced partial family losses.
Infants have been particularly affected. Over 1,000 children under one year were killed, and 450 were born under bombardment but did not survive. The attacks have also left 47,019 Gazan women widowed, with 26,370 losing their spouses since October 7, 2023.
Text Reads: Leaders from various political forces and numerous Palestinian institutions emphasized that women are not only the driving force of society, but also the fundamental pillar of resistance against the occupation.
The Ministry of Social Development has identified urgent needs, including psychosocial support, legal protection, childcare, healthcare, economic empowerment, and vocational training. Planned programs aim to provide intensive labor training, home-based projects, monthly food baskets, recreational activities, and specialized centers for education and accommodation for widows. Most widows are aged 19 to 50, representing 84.6%, while women over 60 make up 14.9%.
The conflict has intensified food shortages, disease, and deteriorating conditions in refugee camps, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
In February 2026, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned, “The actions of Israel appear aimed at achieving a permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank, raising concern about ethnic cleansing.” He added, “The evidence gathered by my Office reveals a consistent pattern of serious human rights violations, grave breaches of international humanitarian law, and atrocity crimes that remain unpunished.”
Official figures report that 70,300 Palestinians have been killed and 171,000 injured, including 20,000 children, 10,000 women, and 5,000 elderly. Aid organizations and local authorities have called for immediate support for orphans and other vulnerable populations in Gaza.
Author: MK
Source: Agencies
