Gaza children running out of time to treat blast-induced hearing loss

What Happened

Children in Gaza are increasingly suffering partial or total hearing loss caused by blast waves from Israeli airstrikes and bombardments during the war that began in October 2023. A one-year-old girl, Wateen al-Ajrami, lost approximately 85% of hearing in her left ear and 90% in her right ear after an Israeli strike hit near her shelter in Jabalia in August 2024. Her mother, Mariam, said Wateen stopped responding to calls days later and a specialist confirmed severe to profound hearing loss from the blast wave, with no other physical injuries. A three-year-old boy, Usaid al-Shami, lost most of his hearing at four months old during intense phases of the war in southern Gaza, leaving him unable to hear approaching danger like dogs or vehicles. The Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children estimates the number of people with hearing disabilities in Gaza has risen from about 20,000 before the war to approximately 35,000 now, driven by continuous explosions. UN agencies and health organisations report a sharp rise in such cases, with children facing heightened risks because they cannot hear warnings of attacks or evacuation calls. Access to treatment is severely limited: hearing aids, batteries, cochlear implant parts, and specialised rehabilitation centres are critically short due to the Israeli blockade, which has not been fully lifted despite the ceasefire. Medical reports for Wateen have been submitted to the WHO for possible referral outside Gaza, but no transfer has occurred.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The surge in blast-induced hearing loss among Gaza's children threatens a generation’s cognitive and linguistic development, as damage occurs at critical language-acquisition ages. Without hearing aids or specialised therapy, many face lifelong disability and heightened risk of death during bombardments because they cannot hear warnings or approaching hazards. The crisis underscores how the war’s collateral damage extends beyond immediate casualties to long-term, invisible harm that the crippled health system and blockade make nearly impossible to treat. International humanitarian law obligations to protect children with disabilities in conflict are being severely tested.

Watch For

Monitor whether the WHO or other humanitarian agencies secure medical evacuations for children like Wateen al-Ajrami through the Rafah crossing or alternative routes, especially if the ceasefire holds or a new truce is negotiated. Watch for any Israeli easing of import restrictions on hearing devices and cochlear implant parts under international pressure. Track reports from the Atfaluna Society and UN OCHA on the rising disability caseload, which may be cited in future war-crimes investigations or ICC filings concerning the blockade’s impact on children. Finally, watch for any language-development or educational assessments of Gaza’s children as a proxy for long-term societal damage.