Photos: Shattered homes show Gaza conflict’s toll on children

AP | By HT Correspondent

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

The latest Gaza war is over, but its wreckage still litters homes. The 11-day war was the fourth fought between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, AP reported. It featured the same waves of predawn Israeli airstrikes, the same continuous rocket fire out of the impoverished territory, and the same lopsided casualty toll, with Palestinians making up the vast majority of the more than 250 killed. And like the others, it took a heavy toll on children. At least 66 Palestinian children were killed, as well as a 5-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl on the Israeli side. Countless more were awakened in the night by explosions.

Share Via

Copy Link

1 / 8

Mahmoud Al-Masri, 14, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged when an airstrike destroyed the neighboring building prior to a cease-fire that halted an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Mahmoud Al-Masri, 14, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged when an airstrike destroyed the neighboring building prior to a cease-fire that halted an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip.(John Minchillo / AP)

2 / 8

Amal Nassir, 11, sits for a portrait in her bedroom that was damaged by an airstrike during the conflict, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Both sides say they have no choice, and no one expects this war to be the last. Meanwhile, the intractable conflict takes its toll on those with the least capacity to understand its cruel logic.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Amal Nassir, 11, sits for a portrait in her bedroom that was damaged by an airstrike during the conflict, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Both sides say they have no choice, and no one expects this war to be the last. Meanwhile, the intractable conflict takes its toll on those with the least capacity to understand its cruel logic.(John Minchillo / AP)

3 / 8

Issat Al-Masri, 18, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged by shelling prior to the cease-fire, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Israel blames the destruction on Hamas, which fires imprecise rockets from civilian areas in Gaza in the general direction of civilian areas in Israel. The military says it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Issat Al-Masri, 18, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged by shelling prior to the cease-fire, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Israel blames the destruction on Hamas, which fires imprecise rockets from civilian areas in Gaza in the general direction of civilian areas in Israel. The military says it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties.(John Minchillo / AP)

4 / 8

Suroq Al-Masri, 9, and her sister Razan, 4, stand for a portrait in their bedroom that was severely damaged when an airstrike destroyed a neighboring building prior to the cease-fire, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. The two girls survived the early morning airstrike that destroyed a nearby building on May 19, two days before a cease-fire ended the war. But like so many children in Gaza, they will carry the memory of its horrors and devastation.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Suroq Al-Masri, 9, and her sister Razan, 4, stand for a portrait in their bedroom that was severely damaged when an airstrike destroyed a neighboring building prior to the cease-fire, on May 26 in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. The two girls survived the early morning airstrike that destroyed a nearby building on May 19, two days before a cease-fire ended the war. But like so many children in Gaza, they will carry the memory of its horrors and devastation.(John Minchillo / AP)

5 / 8

Anas Alhaj Ahmed, 4, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged by an airstrike prior to the cease-fire, on May 27 in Maghazi, Gaza Strip. The airstrike tore the roof off the bedroom that 4-year-old Anas shared with his sister and left the floor covered in shattered glass. It was the first war in his short life, but most Gazans vividly recall the others.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Anas Alhaj Ahmed, 4, stands for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged by an airstrike prior to the cease-fire, on May 27 in Maghazi, Gaza Strip. The airstrike tore the roof off the bedroom that 4-year-old Anas shared with his sister and left the floor covered in shattered glass. It was the first war in his short life, but most Gazans vividly recall the others.(John Minchillo / AP)

6 / 8

Ibrahim Al-Masri, 10, sits for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. So accustomed are residents to the remnants of previous conflicts, that even adolescents can point out homes destroyed in previous rounds of fighting, AP reported.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Ibrahim Al-Masri, 10, sits for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. So accustomed are residents to the remnants of previous conflicts, that even adolescents can point out homes destroyed in previous rounds of fighting, AP reported.(John Minchillo / AP)

7 / 8

Batul Al-Masri, 5, and her siblings stand for a portrait in their bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. The survivors have even more hardship ahead as they struggle to rebuild. Israel and Egypt have imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Batul Al-Masri, 5, and her siblings stand for a portrait in their bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. The survivors have even more hardship ahead as they struggle to rebuild. Israel and Egypt have imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.(John Minchillo / AP)

8 / 8

Abu Amsha, 6, sits for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Israel says the closure is needed to keep Hamas from re-arming, while the Palestinians and rights groups view it as a form of collective punishment. Either way, it will be a long time before the children whose bedrooms were shattered return to somewhere that feels like home.(John Minchillo / AP)

Published on Jun 01, 2021 03:46 pm IST

Abu Amsha, 6, sits for a portrait in his bedroom that was damaged during an airstrike prior to a cease-fire, on May 26, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Israel says the closure is needed to keep Hamas from re-arming, while the Palestinians and rights groups view it as a form of collective punishment. Either way, it will be a long time before the children whose bedrooms were shattered return to somewhere that feels like home.(John Minchillo / AP)

Home / Photos / Photos: Shattered homes show Gaza conflict’s toll on children

SHARE

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Copyright © 2026 HT Digital Streams Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Your Subscription Plan

Saved Articles

Subscribe Now!

Follow Us On