Art Helps Gaza Children Cope with War Trauma

Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – Maryam, 16, sits before a blank page, pencil in hand, tracing her first lines. In a context where war has upended every aspect of life in Gaza, Maryam is trying to carve out a different environment, even if only for a few hours. Paper and pencil allow her to step away from her surroundings and return to what she loves.

Maryam's home was bombed in January 2024. She now lives with her grandmother in Deir el-Balah. She has lost friends and relatives, including her uncle, in Israeli attacks—a campaign that has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians since October 2023. The art space where Maryam draws—located in a seaside café in Deir el-Balah—has become her refuge.

“This place helps me get back to myself and rediscover my passion for drawing,” Maryam says. For her, drawing is not just a hobby but a way to express emotions, especially those hard to put into words. “I feel psychologically relieved, as if I can put my feelings on paper instead of holding them inside. Each drawing helps me describe a part of what I feel and convey it to people in my own way, even things I sometimes can't say.”

A Space for Hope

Maryam has drawn since childhood but began attending the art class in April, when the space was established. She says each completed drawing gives her a sense of accomplishment and opens a small window of hope amid heavy days. “If I didn't draw, I might have sunk into depression and difficult circumstances. But I stood up and learned something new every day.”

Abdullah al-Ghafri, 35, founded the art space. He says the idea came from an urgent need: “Most educational and cultural centers in Gaza have been destroyed; we couldn't find anywhere to nurture the talents of children and teenagers. The main goal is to help participants escape the atmosphere of war and destruction, providing a place to release negative energy and replace it with hope.” Still, the high rental costs force him to constantly seek investors to keep the initiative running.

Coping with Trauma

According to psychologist Asil Abu Shawish, art helps children and teenagers express emotions during times of intense trauma. “When children draw, sing, or play instruments, they partly release the pressure and emotions built up inside.” She explains that a safe space to engage in artistic activity provides a sense of stability amid constantly changing circumstances: “When a child enters a safe space and knows they have time for drawing or music, it helps them feel they still have some control over their lives.”

The war continues despite a formal ceasefire in October, and children still face fear, stress, and profound loss. Abu Shawish believes art is an important outlet for emotions, though it cannot heal all psychological effects: “No child can say 'I'm scared,' 'I'm sad,' or 'I lost someone.' But they can draw that feeling, choose a song that expresses it, or release it through playing an instrument.”

Music as Therapy

At the Nuseirat camp, within the Palestinian Student Care Association, Jabr Thabet coordinates activities with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, where children gather to learn singing and playing instruments. Thabet, project coordinator at the conservatory's Gaza branch, says: “We try to bring music to children wherever we can, even as locations shift and centers are damaged. We don't just teach music; we create a space for children to experience ordinary moments, feel joy, and meet peers.”

The conservatory's facility in Gaza City was damaged during the war, so teachers continue activities in evacuation areas like Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, and even Gaza City itself. Thabet emphasizes: “What stands out most is the children's enthusiasm. A child comes to class expecting to learn something new and leaves wanting to come back. Music allows a child to express what's inside in a different way. A child may not speak but can sing or play an instrument. For us, art is a form of resilience. When a child can sing, play, and create something beautiful amid destruction, in a way, they are preserving a part of themselves and their lives.”