Gaza Children Silenced by War's Invisible Scars

Across Gaza, a disturbing trend of speech loss is emerging among children, directly linked to the psychological and physical trauma of war. Specialists report an increasing number of young individuals, like five-year-old Jad, who have suddenly lost their ability to speak following intense bombardment or injury. For some, like four-year-old Lucine, the cause is physical trauma from damaged infrastructure. For many others, the silence is a response to overwhelming violence, a 'freeze response' where the nervous system shuts down.

Child psychotherapist Katrin Glatz Brubakk describes this as 'silent suffering' and 'cognitive war injuries,' noting that the prolonged stress keeps children's brains in survival mode. This can suppress learning and emotional regulation systems, profoundly impacting development. Brubakk states the scale of trauma in Gaza is unmatched in her 12 years of experience, creating an environment of complete lack of safety.

Recovering from such trauma-related mutism is a slow, fragile process. It requires specialized care and rehabilitation tools, which are scarce amid the collapse of healthcare services. Therapeutic approaches, such as using 'hope bubbles' to help children regulate their breath and calm their nervous systems, can initiate recovery. These small steps, from fear to curiosity, are crucial for re-engaging children and returning them to a developmental track.