The situation in Gaza, explained
Warning: This blog contains mentions of violence and death associated with war. It’s normal to have an emotional reaction to what you see or read about in the news, so consider reading or talking about this article with a trusted adult.
There is a lot of conversation about Palestine and Israel happening right now; in person, online, in the news, it seems like everywhere you turn, there’s some new news or information.
But when everyone appears to have an opinion on the current situation, it can be hard to differentiate facts from well… opinions. While we by no means have all the answers, we’re here to try and help you get some clarity by giving you the facts on some of the big questions.
What is the significance of October 7th?
On October 7, 2023, the de-facto authorities in Gaza launched an attack against Israel, entering settlements near the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking another 230 – including children – hostage.
In the two years since October 7, over 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed and at least 39,000 injured by Israeli forces. Families have had to move again and again, with no safe place to stay. At the same time, the Israeli authorities have been limiting how much aid gets into Gaza, keeping food and medicine from the people who need it most.
What is the oPt?
oPt is short form for the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, a territory is considered “occupied” when it is placed under the control of a hostile army.
In 1967, during what is now called The Six Day War, the Government of Israel took over new territory in Palestine and Syria; the West Bank, including Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in Palestine, and the Golan Heights of Syria.
From 1967, the Government of Israel has maintained control over these territories through the Military Government of Israel (MGoI) – leading many, including Save the Children, to refer to Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip collectively as the occupied Palestinian territory or territories.
What is happening in Gaza right now?
In Gaza, a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding. Even before October 7, 2023, an estimated 80% of the population of Gaza was reliant on humanitarian aid – meaning they needed to receive money and supplies from other countries and organizations like Save the Children, to be able to eat, have water to drink and wash with, and fuel to heat their homes and keep generators running.
From October 7, 2023 to October 2025:
- At least 132,000 children under five are now at risk of acute malnutrition in Gaza — double the number since May 2025;
- All schools in Gaza have been closed for two years, leaving 625,000 children without access to education;
- Around 2 million people are crammed into just 12% of the Gaza Strip (365 square km total), because of displacement orders and Israeli militarized zones; and
- Only 14 hospitals are still open across Gaza — eight in Gaza City, three in Deir al-Balah, and three in Khan Younis. But none of them can run to their normal capacity because there are too many patients and not enough medicine or supplies to treat patients with.
There is also no clean water to drink, and no electricity or fuel, meaning the hospitals and shelters that remain open must operate without power.
What is malnutrition? Is it the same as hunger?
Hunger and malnutrition are not the same, though they do often go together.
Hunger is the physical pain or discomfort you feel when you don’t eat the right number of calories in a day. When hunger continues, it can interfere with a child’s ability to go to school, play with friends, or lead an active and happy life.
Malnutrition, on the other hand, covers any issues with a person’s diet, like not eating enough food (undernutrition) or eating too much unhealthy food (overnutrition/obesity). In our work, when we say malnutrition, we usually mean undernutrition, or when children don’t get enough calories to grow and stay healthy.
Severe acute malnutrition is the worst form of malnutrition. When a child experiences severe acute malnutrition, their weight is dangerously low for their height; they are unusually thin and feel very weak; and they may experience swelling in their hands, legs, and stomach area.
What does the conflict mean for children in Gaza?
Gaza has a very young population, with almost 47.3% of people in Gaza being under the age of 18.
And right now, no child in Gaza is safe. Their right to play, to go to school, and to be protected has been blown apart by a conflict they have no say in.
This most recent increase in violence also comes following an 18-year blockade – a closure of borders between the occupied Palestinian territory and other countries, including Israel, that seriously limited food, medicine, fuel and other essential supplies from being brought into the occupied Palestinian territories8 – that has had a huge impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing.
In 2022, well before the start of the most recent conflict, Save the Children reported that children and young people in Gaza have a constant anxiety about being separated from their parents, with 90% per cent feeling less safe when away from them. Additionally, 84% of children reported feeling fearful on at least a daily basis, because of previous outbreaks of violence between Palestine and Israel.
I heard famine was declared in Gaza. What does this mean?
Famine at its most basic definition is defined as an extreme shortage of food.
In humanitarian work, we use a tool called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis – also known as the IPC scale – to figure out how serious a food crisis is. It investigates whether people can get enough healthy, affordable food and looks at other important information about their lives. Then the IPC analysis gives a score from 1 to 5: 1 means most people (over 80% of households) can get enough food, while 5 means a lot of people (at least 20% of households) don’t have enough to eat, and serious problems like poverty, starvation, and even death are happening.
In August 2025, the IPC analysis determined that famine is occurring in Gaza, with over half a million people in Gaza – about half of whom are children – facing catastrophic hunger. It’s important to note that this is the first time a famine has officially been confirmed in the Middle East.
What is Save the Children doing in Gaza?
Save the Children have been providing essential services and support to Palestinian children since 1953 and have had a permanent presence in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1973.
We provide various programs including youth and child participation, food assistance, nutrition support, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, and child protection programs, among many more.
Following the start of the conflict in 2023, we have:
- Provided clean water to 575,441 people via water trucking;
- Established eight child friendly spaces – where children can learn, play and receive support from trained experts during emergencies – and supported 20 more with our partners;
- Set up 26 temporary learning spaces, providing 5,000 children with a safe place to learn;
- Treated 13,573 people for malnutrition; and
- Provided cash to 290,970 people, including through innovative e-wallets, to help them buy necessary supplies.
These are just some examples of our work in Gaza, but no matter what, Save the Children is committed to helping children and families who have been caught up in this war.
How can I learn more about what is happening in Gaza and Israel?
Even news articles can sometimes be written with bias – the reporter who wrote or presented the article may have their own opinions that can inform how they talk about a situation – so the best way to learn more is by reading news from a number of different sources, to get a full picture of the situation from many perspectives.
You can also check out organizations like Save the Children, Islamic Relief Canada, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam and many more who have been working in Israel and Gaza for years – and who still have many staff inside of Gaza.
This situation can be very tough, even for those of us just watching from Canada, so remember to also look after your own mental health; take breaks, talk to your friends or trusted adults, go for a walk. Staying informed is important but so is looking after yourself.
For more information on the history of Israel and Gaza, check out this CBC Kids News article.