90% of Palestinian children in Gaza traumatised after Israel's last offensive: report

Nine out of 10 children in Gaza are suffering from some form of conflict-related trauma due to the Israeli assault on the besieged enclave, according to a new report.

In May, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that killed at least 260 Palestinians, including 66 children. The flare-up in violence saw occupying warplanes decimate residential and commercial buildings, including those housing global media networks.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor released a report entitled 'One War Older' on Saturday that highlighted the level of trauma amongst women and children in Gaza after the attack. 

The organisation indicated that the Israeli bombardment of the enclave in May led to disproportionate attacks against densely populated residential neighbourhoods, some of which have women and children make up 75 percent of the residents there.

The report said that 241 children lost one or both parents as a result of the assault and around 5,400 children have had their homes either completely destroyed or severely damaged, while 42,000 children are living in partially damaged homes.

Nearly 2,500 pregnant women who are due to give birth in the next three months could suffer complications in childbirth, as a direct or indirect effect of the attack, according to the report.

Mariam Dawwas, a field researcher at Euro-Med Monitor, said that she and the field team documented hundreds of cases of Israel directly targeting civilians in their homes.

Dawwas, who was displaced with her daughter after Israeli fighter jets targeted her apartment building, said: “There is no much difference from the three previous military attacks on Gaza, except for one thing; Today I was among those whom I documented and photographed. I ran with them and screamed in search of my little daughter and left my home after an Israeli fighter jet targeted the building.”

“Today, my 3-year-old daughter Sophie and I are still trying to live normally while going through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like the vast majority of Gaza residents,” she added.