Future offspring in Gaza are set to bear the burdensome legacy of genocide trauma
In the troubled region of Gaza, a year-long genocide has left over 42,000 Palestinians dead and displaced nearly 90% of its population. The conflict has also resulted in over 103,000 injuries and the destruction of nearly 60% of Gaza's buildings, creating what the United Nations World Food Program has called a "full-blown famine."
The trauma experienced by the survivors of this genocide is profound and far-reaching. Children in Gaza exhibit trauma-related behaviors, with limited mental health resources exacerbating their conditions. Therapists are trying to provide support through techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotional regulation exercises.
Pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from starvation, stress, and lack of medical care. Testimonies describe fears of miscarriage, birth defects, low birth weight, and potential developmental issues. The severe food insecurity, with a confirmed famine affecting over half a million people, induces profound malnutrition during critical prenatal periods.
The ongoing violence and destruction in Gaza, often referred to as urbicide, not only erases physical structures but also impairs community stability, vital for healthy development and social determinants of health. This systemic violence compounds trauma across generations by disrupting traditional support systems and cultural continuity.
Chronic stress and malnutrition can induce epigenetic modifications—heritable changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequences—that affect the development and health of children and potentially grandchildren. These include altered stress response systems and vulnerability to diseases. While direct studies on Palestinians under these specific conditions are limited, the biological mechanisms are well-recognized in trauma and famine research globally.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has described the situation in Gaza as the largest humanitarian crisis it has faced. Touma of UNRWA urges pressure on politicians to reach a ceasefire, which should include the release of hostages and the resumption of humanitarian aid to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Research suggests that the health consequences of the genocide could last the rest of the survivors' lives. The study by Hasan Khatib's lab in 2022 provided the first solid evidence of epigenetic inheritance in mammals, specifically in sheep. However, the evidence for epigenetic inheritance of trauma in humans is currently weak due to ethical and logistical challenges in performing controlled experiments.
Experts fear that the trauma of the genocide could be passed on to future generations of unborn Palestinians, affecting their psyche, health, and potentially their epigenetics. Organisations like Roseboom are more focused on minimizing intergenerational trauma and creating environments that allow for human development to its full potential.
In conclusion, the compounded effects of genocide-related trauma, starvation, damaged healthcare, and social disintegration in Gaza have immediate health consequences and induce biological and epigenetic changes that affect Palestinian children both in utero and after birth, influencing their long-term physical and mental well-being across generations.
- Amidst the chaos, several magazine articles have been dedicated to the plight of the Gaza community, focusing on their struggle with chronic diseases, mental health issues, and the impact of chronic stress on their health and epigenetics.
- In a bid to address the mental health crisis, art therapy sessions are being introduced into schools and community centers, providing a space for children to express their emotions and begin the healing process.
- Science has played a pivotal role in understanding the long-term effects of trauma on health, with research shedding light on the connection between war-and-conflicts, politics, and chronic diseases.
- Local medical-conditions clinics are working tirelessly to provide basic health needs, while also trying to educate the community about the importance of nutrition, hygiene, and mental health in the face of ongoing adversity.
- As the international community continues to grapple with the general-news of conflicts in Gaza, crime-and-justice organizations are pushing for justice and accountability for those responsible for the genocide.
- In the pursuit of peace and stability, multiple groups are working on initiatives to rebuild Gaza's destroyed infrastructure, not just to restore physical structures, but also to foster a sense of community and promote health-and-wellness among its people.
