Ceasefire in Gaza: What’s next for children?
More than 17,818. That is the number of Gaza’s 1.1 million children that have been killed in the violence over the past 15 months. Leading up to the ceasefire, children in Gaza have endured the unimaginable—facing death, injuries, displacement, lack of access to food, healthcare, and education, as well as exposure to trauma.
On January 15, 2025, the world learned that the Government of Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in hostilities or sometimes referred to as a ceasefire. After months of horrific destruction and tens of thousands of lives lost, this pause is a significant step forward and brings a sense of relief. But what does a ceasefire or pause mean, and more importantly, what is next for the children of Gaza?
What does a pause in hostilities mean?
The agreement made between Israel and Hamas was to pause hostilities, intended to stop the daily attacks on civilians. However, to prevent further deaths, a definitive ceasefire must be put in place. All parties must respect and implement their commitments under this agreement and their obligations under international law. This is critical to end the suffering of children and their families in Gaza.
What does this mean for children?
“This pause will start new types of misery for people. It will open their eyes to their destroyed homes, and the destroyed infrastructure. And to the years we must spend rebuilding what we lost,” says Yasmeen, a Save the Children Media and Comms Officer in Gaza.
Families who have endured relentless airstrikes and unimaginable loss may now feel a moment of hope, but this does not mean that life returns to normal. Now, tens of thousands of children and families must begin the long road to recovery.
While the pause brings relief from immediate violence, the scars left on children—both visible and invisible—will take far longer to heal. Many children in Gaza have lost their homes, schools, and even family members. The trauma they have endured will have lasting consequences that could span generations to come. Recovery means rebuilding not only the physical buildings but a sense of safety and stability.
Supporting children as they heal
Save the Children has provided support to Palestinian children since 1953. With the current pause, our teams and local partners in Gaza will scale up our responses to meet urgent needs and increase the flow of lifesaving supplies. We have prepared food kits, winter clothes, and blankets, ready to be delivered once entry points into Gaza open.
Also, as many families return to where their homes once stood, we will ensure they have continued access to essential support. This includes establishing new primary health care centres, child-friendly spaces, and temporary learning spaces, as well as exploring mobile options to help children and families on the move.
“We are fully prepared. We have operations throughout the region, which allows us to bring goods into Gaza through our teams in Lebanon, Egypt, and other locations. There is still a lot that needs to change to allow for safety, security, and capacity for us to deliver all those goods,” says Patrick Robitaille, Save the Children’s Head of Humanitarian Affairs in a recent interview on CBC’s Here and Now. As peace negotiations continue, Save the Children remains dedicated to helping children in Gaza no matter what. Despite the devastation, the resilience of Gaza’s children shines through.
With your support, our teams can continue to ensure that aid reaches children and families throughout Gaza as quickly and efficiently as possible.