54,468 Gaza orphans rely on widows

Three siblings in central Gaza change tents every two days, moving between the homes of their aunts to survive. Mariam, 16, Aya, 14, and Jebril, 12, established this rotation after their mother died in an airstrike on October 28, 2025. Their father had died during the 2014 offensive, leaving the children without parents when their shelter in Deir al-Balah was destroyed during the ceasefire period.

The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development states that 54,468 children in Gaza have lost at least one parent since October 2023. The ministry’s records indicate at least 64,000 widows and 71,000 orphaned children across the territory. This total includes those bereaved by earlier Israeli military operations. Approximately 3,000 children are currently listed without a registered guardian, custodian, or caregiver.

Warda al-Muzeini, the children’s aunt, says they lack a stable home. They primarily stay with their paternal grandmother but spend two nights each with their maternal aunts. Jebril was injured in the same strike that killed his mother. Muzeini lost her own husband in an air strike and now raises four children without a job or reliable income. She reports struggling to provide even one meal a day. Her sister, another widow, shares the costs, with one aunt buying pyjamas, another purchasing slippers, and a third providing small amounts of pocket money.

Aziza al-Kahlout, a ministry spokesperson, noted that the statistics do not fully reflect the daily hardships. She explained that children who lose both parents lose care, safety, and education. They are forced to assume responsibilities far beyond their years. Kahlout described the double burden on women who become the sole breadwinners for their families while raising children in a devastated environment.

Kahlout warned of growing risks regarding child labor, school dropout, and early marriage in Gaza. She attributed these trends to poverty, displacement, and the loss of family income. Orphaned children face increased exposure as economic and humanitarian conditions worsen and adequate shelter remains scarce.

Wafaa al-Attar lost her entire family in a single strike on February 22, 2024. She was ten years old when she left her home in Deir al-Balah to charge a phone. A blast destroyed the multi-storey building where her father, mother, and four siblings lived. Al-Attar survived with minor shrapnel injuries. She later moved in with her uncle, his wife, and their newborn child. She recalled wishing she had died with her family during the initial months after the strike. Her uncle’s wife told her that her father would want her to stay strong.