Dr. Akesson’s comments on the impact of war on Palestinian children and families included in UK reporting on Gaza War.

A recent analysis in The i Paper highlights the geopolitical maneuvering surrounding U.S. responses to Israel’s military actions in Gaza — but buried beneath political debate lies a far more urgent story: the profound and lasting impact on children and families.

Donald Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in April (Photo: Kevin Mohatt/Reuters). 04/10/2025 Screenshot from The i Paper .

Dr. Bree Akesson, whose research focuses on the experiences of families living through war and displacement, warns that the situation in Gaza represents not only a humanitarian crisis but the systematic destruction of civilian life.

“What we are seeing is not just war, but the destruction of an entire civilian population,” she states. “If Israel takes full military control of Gaza, there will likely be even more mass displacement… rendering Palestinian communities stateless and without shelter.”

Drawing on comparative research from Chechnya, Syria, and Afghanistan, Dr. Akesson underscores that the consequences for children extend far beyond physical harm.

“Pervasive stress and trauma can alter children’s brain development and impair their learning. War doesn’t just destroy homes and infrastructure — it destroys family life and childhood.”

Her intervention serves as a critical reminder: political decisions made at the highest levels ripple through daily family life in irreversible ways. While international actors debate military strategy and diplomatic cost, parents in Gaza are struggling to maintain the most basic forms of care — safety, routine, play, hope.

As calls for ceasefire and protection mechanisms continue, Dr. Akesson’s research emphasizes an essential principle: any sustainable peace must begin with the wellbeing of children and the preservation of family life. Without this, reconstruction efforts will be rebuilding on fractured foundations.