The ongoing conflict in Gaza has forced children as young as eight to take on adult responsibilities, leaving school behind to help their families survive. The devastating consequences of Israel’s military operations have created a humanitarian crisis where children are forced to become breadwinners in their households.

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Children Losing Their Childhood

Fifteen-year-old Mohammed Ashour carries thermoses through the streets of Gaza City, calling out to potential customers for a cup of coffee. Normally, Mohammed would be attending school with his peers. However, after the death of his father in Israel’s military campaign, he has been forced to abandon education to support his family.

“This burden isn’t mine to carry,” Mohammed told Al Jazeera. “I’m exhausted, but I have to do it to support my siblings.”

Mohammed is one of tens of thousands of Palestinian children facing similar circumstances, as at least 39,000 children have lost one or both parents in the conflict. With Gaza’s economy shattered, children are stepping into adult roles to provide for their families.

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Families Struggling to Survive

Mohammed’s mother, Atad Ashour, described the impossible situation her family faces:

“After his father was killed, we were left with no income at all. My older sons couldn’t find work, and I couldn’t provide for the family. He’s still a child, but he’s carrying a responsibility that isn’t his.”

Many families in Gaza have no choice but to rely on their children for income, as opportunities for adults are extremely limited due to blockades, conflict, and widespread economic collapse.

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Aid Agencies Warn of Rising Child Labor

Humanitarian organizations report that Gaza’s children are bearing the brunt of the war, forced into work that would normally be done by adults.

UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram said:

“We’re seeing more children scavenging through waste, looking for pieces of scrap or firewood to sell, and children selling coffee. We’re working with partners to provide cash assistance and education, and to help families resume employment to reduce reliance on child labor.”

Save the Children’s Gaza humanitarian director, Rachel Cummings, added that the conflict has disrupted family structures, forcing children to care for siblings or other family members.

“The whole family structure has been disrupted in Gaza, and children are very vulnerable. This precarious situation is taking a huge toll,” she said.

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Scale of the Crisis

The conflict has left more than 660,000 children out of formal education in Gaza, representing nearly half the population under 18. Furthermore, 132,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian situation.

Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary reported from Gaza City that the loss of parental breadwinners has forced children into responsibilities they were never meant to handle:

“They were supposed to be in school, playing with their friends. The war’s toll on Palestinian children has been massive.”

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Personal Stories Highlight Human Cost

As he ends another long day of work, Mohammed passes by a school, wishing he could be inside learning with his classmates:

“If my father were alive, you would find me at home going to school,” he said.

Stories like Mohammed’s highlight the human cost of the conflict, showing how children are losing both their education and their childhood amid ongoing violence.