Three years after the October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas militants and the war that followed, families on both sides of the Gaza border continue to deal with trauma, displacement, and the permanent loss of their children. Accounts from CBS News, Al Jazeera, and WBUR show that time has not lessened the grief for surviving relatives.
The initial assault by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in about 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages. The military campaign launched by Israel has since killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. Children are among the most deeply impacted victims of this ongoing conflict.
The Unfading Pain of Israeli Families
For families in Israel, the memories of young victims remain present and painful. Ofri Bibas Levy continues to mourn her family’s loss. Her brother, Yarden Bibas, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife, Shiri, and their young sons, Ariel, then 4, and Kfir, just 9 months old.
Yarden Bibas was released in February 2025. However, Shiri and the children never returned home, having been killed in captivity. “I’m still living the day, every day, every second,” Bibas Levy said. She described a fracture in the national psyche, marked by a profound loss of security and trust.
Other young survivors have also had their formative years shaped by violence. Ron Shargian was 12 years old when he watched militants cross toward Netiv HaAsara, where 17 of his neighbors were killed. He spent 11 hours trapped in a bomb shelter with his family before escaping. Now 15, his life remains shadowed by the events of that day.
Devastation and Survival Across the Gaza Border
In Gaza, families recount severe losses amid continuous bombardment and displacement. The grandmother of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in January 2024 when the car she was in came under Israeli fire in Gaza City, keeps her granddaughter’s kindergarten graduation gown and notebook close.
“Hind cannot be forgotten, because what happened to her was very difficult,” her grandmother stated, remembering a child who dreamed of becoming a doctor. The Israeli military announced a criminal investigation into Hind’s death in August, but her family holds little expectation of accountability.
The toll on parents has been catastrophic. Nisreen Touman, a Gaza mother, lost her first husband and two children, Mahmoud and Laith, during a heavy military operation in June 2024. Later, after remarrying to help care for her late sister’s children, she lost her second husband, Mohammed, in a July 2025 strike near al-Awda Hospital. Now raising her newborn daughter, Sidra, in the ruins, Touman reflects on a life upended by continuous loss.
Displacement and the Search for Healing Abroad
Some families have sought safety far from the region, though the psychological weight of the war follows them. Jaser AbuMousa moved to Walpole, Massachusetts, with his surviving children, Abdallah and Sham, after an October 2023 airstrike destroyed their home in Gaza. The strike killed his wife, two other children, and three additional relatives.
While AbuMousa engages in track 1.5 diplomacy and advocates for the human element of the catastrophe, his children cope differently. His daughter Sham, who delivered a speech at her middle school graduation, avoids discussing Gaza or her past losses as a psychological defense.
“The social ruin produced by the war is needing more attention,” AbuMousa noted. He emphasized that rebuilding informal structures, civil society, and families in Gaza remains a challenge alongside physical reconstruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the escalation of the Israel-Gaza war?
The conflict escalated after coordinated attacks led by Hamas militants on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 taken hostages.
How have children been affected by the conflict?
Thousands of children have been killed, injured, or orphaned in both Israel and Gaza. Many survivors experience severe psychological trauma, displacement, and the loss of immediate family members.
What happened to the Bibas family?
Yarden Bibas was abducted alongside his wife Shiri and their young sons Ariel and Kfir from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Yarden was released in February 2025, but Shiri and both boys were killed in captivity.
Who was Hind Rajab?
Hind Rajab was a 5-year-old Palestinian girl whose audio recordings pleading for help went viral after her family’s car came under fire in Gaza City in January 2024. Her body was recovered 12 days later.
How are displaced families coping internationally?
Some families relocated to the United States and other countries are attempting to rebuild their lives while navigating profound grief. Younger family members often use silence as a coping mechanism.
