In Gaza, we cannot even begin to recover from trauma

What the report says

In an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera on 6 October 2026, Said Alsaloul describes the psychological toll of the war in Gaza and argues that survivors are living with trauma while the conflict continues. The article says the fighting has lasted three years and has left widespread death, destruction and displacement, with more than 74,000 people killed, according to the piece, including more than 1,400 since a ceasefire began in October 2025.

Alsaloul frames the crisis as both physical and mental, citing United Nations Population Fund analysis that more than one million children in Gaza need psychosocial support. He also points to reported high rates of PTSD, depression and anxiety among adolescents, young adults and adults. The article presents these figures as evidence of a broader mental health emergency that predates the current war but has been intensified by repeated rounds of violence.

The author also gives a personal account of bombardment in Gaza City, describing destroyed homes in his neighborhood, injuries to family members and the deaths of neighbors, including a student he had taught English. These experiences, he writes, have left him numb, hypervigilant and unable to recover while the war is still ongoing. The article’s wider point is that recovery requires safety and time, both of which remain absent for many Palestinians in Gaza.