ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF THE GAZA CONFLICT ON THE WELL-BEING OF ISRAELI CHILDREN ISRAELI CHILDREN

By DEBORAH NATHAN DECEMBER 31, 2023 04:12 – Go to school in Tzfat on their first day back to class on November 1, 2020, wearing masks.

Trauma can affect everyone, especially children. Emunah is fully committed to ensuring Israeli children and their families have the tools they need to recover.

Although Gaza's children have always been a global concern, the impact of the war on Israeli children is often overlooked. Google shows many articles about the trauma of Gaza children, but not many NGOs or journalists pay attention to the impact of the current war on the mental health of Israeli children.

This war feels very different from previous Israeli wars. The initial attack made the whole country feel unsafe. Thousands of families were internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands of children stayed with one parent as the IDF called in backup.

Every day, rocket and siren attacks occur throughout Israel. Children experience and internalize the fears and uncertainties that their parents experience. Since Israel is a small country, not many families can escape from this war. Children are easier to understand the grief and shock of adults than adults.

Avi (not her real name) has been wetting the bed frequently and having nightmares since October 7th. He was taken out of Sderot after terrible days in which murderous terrorists took control of his community. His family is now physically safe and has been rehabilitated in temporary accommodation with other families from Sderot. However, they remain in a state of uncertainty, not knowing when they will return or how their lives will later go. The Avi family lives in Sderot and is almost accustomed to constant rocket attacks. They know that a red warning siren sounds, and they have ten seconds to get to the safe room. But the current war has created a new level of trauma. All members of the Avi family were affected. Avi is unable to go to school; she does not concentrate enough to take Zoom classes; and she is socially isolated from her peers. He is experiencing severe anxiety, and his behavior has undergone significant changes.

Prior to October 7, Avi had been undergoing routine therapy at Sarah Ronson's Emunah Counseling Center in Sderot. One of 13 family counseling centers operated by Emunah throughout Israel. It is part of a vast network of social welfare services, consisting of a daycare center, five orphanages, four high schools, a college, a women's shelter, and two emergency shelters for children and adolescents. They keep alive 10,000 children and families every day.

Emunah counseling centers are staffed by high-quality professionals and offer almost fully subsidized counseling for children, adults, couples, and families. Emunah counseling center services are provided through donations, as they are not funded by the government. These centers have offered support to thousands of Israelis, and the demand for their services has increased significantly since the war. Psychological support and emotional first aid for children and adults Emunah directly helped people affected by the war.

Trauma can change a person's life, but post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cannot be avoided if help is received in time. Emunah was the first to get psychological help after the war, so her treatment will take time and patience.

Avi is currently receiving emergency counseling over the phone from her therapist, whom she knows. When she finally returns home, she hopes to continue face-to-face therapy for as long as necessary. In addition, his parents and siblings will need significant therapy to support his family's mental health.

Trauma can affect anyone, but it can be especially devastating for children. Although the rest of the world may not care, Emunah is determined to ensure that the Children of Israel and their families have the tools they need to recover so that they come out of this war prepared for a more powerful and daunting challenge than ever before.

The writer is World Emunah interim director.

News Sources : ( https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-780127 )