Hope in the Ruins: UNICEF's Fight for Children in Gaza

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‘War does not determine who is right, only who is left.’ - Bertrand Russell. 

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In the climate of 2025, these words echo louder than ever. 50,000 - this is how many Palestinians have been killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict (Ebrahim and Dahman, 2025). More than a million children in Gaza, currently find themselves deprived of life-saving aid due to the recent blockade (Unicef.org, 2025b). In this day and age we have become desensitized to these numbers but these are not just numbers. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children. 

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We have seen this catastrophe time and time again, and it is clear that wars breed nothing but destruction, suffering and death. For the purpose of this article, I will be focusing specifically on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but this is not to ignore the thousands of others who are suffering in other regions of the globe. This conflict is one of the most complex and painful, with decades of historical events and tension buried under the surface - the foundational roots which continue to fuel the ongoing violence today. I once found myself deeply confused by the region's past and hope that this article helps those who are also struggling to gain a better understanding.

 

History is immortal; it is the past, present and future, and what is it if not the ultimate lesson for us all? Setting aside politics, I implore you all to see this conflict for what it truly is: a tragedy unfolding in real time. Yes, as you read this, bombs are flying overhead, a child's cradle is emptying, families are starving and people are dying. The world watches as the death toll continues to rise, yet organizations like UNICEF stand as beacons of hope. In the famous words of Jimi Hendrix, ‘When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace,’ and this, to me, is exactly what lies at the core of UNICEF. Its morals and dedication to the vulnerable pave the way to peace, and you can help build the way amidst our war-torn world by supporting them.

 

Who is UNICEF? 

 

You have probably heard of UNICEF before but what is it really? What does it do? Well, UNICEF stands for the United Nations Child Fund. Working in over 190 countries, they work tirelessly to help protect the rights of children (UNICEF, 2022), providing and advocating for their education, protecting them from violence and abuse, providing them with medical aid, offering health and nutrition services and keeping them safe from the ever-changing climate and diseases. UNICEF is made up of an amazing 17,000 working members who are committed to protecting the rights and well-being of children wherever they may be and whoever they are. This rights-based approach has become dominant in international policy discourses, acting as the main pillar in international NGOs as well as UNICEF (Jones and Sumner, 2011).  

 

First founded following World War II, UNICEF worked to provide emergency aid to those in need. In 1949 it supported approximately 4 million children and mothers in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia, and 350 in Palestine. Furthermore, they helped to provide 165 million pounds of milk as well as﹩4 million worth of cotton wool and ﹩600,000 of medical supplies (UNICEF, 1949). Almost 80 years have passed since the establishment of UNICEF yet its mission has never faltered. It is committed to long-term peace and love and this is evident in their dedication to those they help, conducting independent investigations regularly to be certain that their ethics are not being violated. Staff work around the clock and on the ground, reaching those in the most remote areas and alleviating a great deal of suffering.

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Palestine and Israel - What is Really Going On? 

 

As mentioned before, the history of this region is quite complex but it is vital to acknowledge in order to piece together our understanding of current affairs. The following explanation is largely based on reporting by the BBC (Israel and the Palestinians: History of the Conflict Explained, 2025) as well as ABC News (ABC News, 2023). Prior to 1948, a Jewish and Arab population existed and were governed under that of the Ottoman Empire. (The region was typically referred to as the Ottoman Empire's southern Levant.) However, after World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman empire, the British took over and ruled under a mandate from the League of Nations. At this time there was an Arab majority and a Jewish minority and tensions grew as Arab rebellions took place as well as there being an increase in mass Jewish migration following the Holocaust in World War II. 

 

In 1947 the United Nations proposed a plan to divide the land into two separate states, one for the Jewish and one for the Arabs with Jerusalem becoming an international city. The Jewish accepted, creating the state of Israel, whereas the Arab community did not. This catalyzed a significant year-long period of conflict. Moreover, Israel declared independence in 1948 resulting in the Arab-Israeli war between the Israelis and an array of Arab nations. Fighting came to an end in 1949, with Israel having taken more Arab land than had been originally agreed upon by the UN. This left Palestinian territories without a recognized independent state. Thousands fled their homes due to violence or as a result of being forced out, many believing they would one day return - but were never allowed back. Approximately 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and this is known as the ‘Nakba’ or the ‘catastrophe’ by the Palestinians. This is where the modern refugee crisis and the long-term struggle for Palestine's independence began. After the conflict, agreements were put into place leaving Jordan occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Egypt occupying the Gaza Strip, Syria occupying the Golan Heights and Israel occupying West Jerusalem. Palestinian refugees ended up in places such as the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria in camps that still exist to this day.

 

The Six-Day War of 1967 and the Beginning of the Modern War

 

The Palestinians continued to feel the side effects of conflict during the Six-Day War of 1967. During this war, which was triggered by an Israeli strike launched on Egypt’s air force, Israel fought Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. The result of the conflict was Israel's capture of even more land. This consisted of the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza from Egypt as well as a significant portion of the Golan Heights from Syria and finally East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan. Here Israel built many settlements and approximately one million Palestinians came under Israeli control. The occupation of these respective areas has lasted to this day and is considered illegal by the UN. Palestinians have repeatedly called for their own state, demonstrated through two major uprisings in 1987 and 2000, along with futile peace talks. 

 

To come back to the modern age, in 2005 Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas. This was known as the ‘disengagement plan’. However, Israel kept control of Gaza’s border, the airspace, and the sea. Hamas is a significant group within the modern day conflict - designated as a terrorist group by many and formed in the late 1980s, Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel. Winning democratic elections in 2006, Hamas took control of Gaza in the following year. However, it was unwilling to abandon its violence towards Israel thus leading to its isolation from the international community. A blockade was imposed by Israel and Egypt in the same year, which Israel states, was for security measures, preventing weapons from reaching Hamas. The blockade has resulted in severe living conditions with the deterioration of health systems, employment, and infrastructure. To this day there have been multiple conflicts between Israel and Hamas leading to profound destruction in Gaza and the deaths of thousands, most of whom are civilians. Today, millions of Palestinians live without basic rights, as refugees or under Israeli control. It is important to note that while Hamas claims to defend Palestinian land, many countries do not trust it as a governing force and blame them for worsening the war. As you can see this conflict is not limited to the events of a decade or two but spans over a significant period of time dating back a hundred years, driven by issues of land, identity and freedom and ultimately branded with historical antagonism.

 

The Role of UNICEF and the Breakdown of the January Ceasefire

 

As the war continues to rage on, UNICEF works in the background coming to the aid of millions. In January of this year, a ceasefire was initiated, with an intended exchange of hostages and prisoners, bringing an end to hostilities. However, this has broken down as of March 18th 2025, as Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, effectively ending the ceasefire. To find out more I heavily encourage you to visit this website where a news-video explanation is also available. This video does include some graphic content and thus viewer discretion is advised. 

 

An aid blockade has been implemented since the 2nd of March and this is proving to have detrimental and cruel ripple effects, leaving millions without support (Unicef.org, 2025b). 'For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza’ (Unicef.org, 2025c). It is not that there is no support but that support has been barred from being given - ‘Food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up’ (Unicef.org, 2025c). ‘UNICEF has thousands of pallets of aid waiting to enter the Gaza Strip’ (Unicef.org, 2025b). As a result of the ceasefire breaking down and the continuation of intense violence in the Gaza Strip, at least 322 children have died and 609 have been injured (Unicef.org, 2025a). This information was published on the 31st of March and thus casualties have indefinitely risen beyond this figure. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell also states: ‘The ceasefire in Gaza provided a desperately needed lifeline for Gaza’s children and hope for a path to recovery…But children have again been plunged into a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation. All parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children' (Unicef.org, 2025a).

 

During the ceasefire, UNICEF worked to repair critical wells and water points to support the availability of safe drinking water; however, with the collapse of the ceasefire, repairs have been forced to a halt and the access to safe drinking water has plummeted for 1 million people (Unicef.org, 2025b). The everyday commodities we take for granted such as water, food, medical care, and shelter are a constant battle for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Disease and malnutrition are likely to skyrocket leading to the preventable deaths of thousands. Nevertheless, UNICEF is tirelessly working, despite dangerous conditions and the limits imposed, to provide support to children and their families. Unicef.org (2025b) provide up to date information, explaining how they have consistently called on influential states to intervene, uphold international law, and push all parties involved to end the violence and restore the ceasefire. Furthermore, UNICEF continues to deliver services such as the resumption of neonatal health care services and the provision of 21 respiratory machines saving the lives of 150 newborns. More than 33,500 have been screened for acute malnutrition and more than 7,800 under 2 years old have been provided with Ready to Use Complementary Food (RUCF). As well as this, UNICEF are also currently working to reunite children with their parents who have been separated due to displacement. 

 

Closing Sentiments 

 

‘Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.’- Kofi Annan 

 

In closing, we as individuals are lucky enough to access education and the least we can do as part of humanity is to educate ourselves on the conflicts which tear apart the lives of millions. Ignorance may be bliss but it is also a barrier to empathy and change. UNICEF is the vehicle through which change takes a tangible form and our education of its efforts is vital. In supporting this organization you are a part of true change and humanitarian love. We may not have a large influence over the actions of political figures but we do have an immediate say in who we follow and what we support. You can choose today to spread awareness through a simple conversation with a family member or a peer. If you would like to have an even greater impact, I encourage you to donate to the organization. I hope this article has helped to deepen your understanding of the conflict in the Middle East. It is time to awaken the humanitarian alive in all of us, and follow the admirable footsteps of UNICEF. 

 

Being a bystander is the greatest prison, and I for one intend to be free. I hope you join me.​