In the aftermath of relentless Israeli bombardment, Gaza’s healthcare system is grappling with a silent crisis: widespread hearing loss among its population. The story of Aya Abu Auda and her two young sons, Elias and Ismail, epitomizes the human toll of this devastation. Injured during an attack on their displacement camp in Gaza City, the brothers now suffer from severe hearing impairments. Elias, just five years old, is completely deaf, while Ismail, eight, has lost significant hearing in both ears. Their mother, who had already fled her home after losing her husband to Israeli airstrikes, is now struggling to find treatment for her children in a healthcare system crippled by blockades and destruction.
Sanaa Bahr, another victim of the conflict, recounts her own harrowing experience. Fleeing her home during an air raid, she was exposed to the deafening blasts of F-16 jets and explosive-laden vehicles, leaving her with permanent hearing damage. Like many others in Gaza, she has been unable to access the specialized care she desperately needs.
Yusra Basil, an audiology specialist, highlights the scale of the crisis. The constant bombardment has caused ‘massive auditory damage’ across Gaza, with four in every ten injuries involving some form of hearing impairment. The destruction of rehabilitation centers and the displacement of medical staff have exacerbated the situation, leaving thousands without access to essential treatments like cochlear implants and hearing aids.
A field survey by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children reveals that 35,000 children and adults have suffered hearing loss as a direct result of the conflict. Without urgent intervention, many cases of partial or temporary hearing loss risk becoming permanent, particularly among children, whose development depends heavily on their ability to hear.
Israel’s blockade has further deepened the crisis, preventing the entry of medical supplies and equipment. Organizations like Atfaluna have tried to secure hearing aids and other essential tools from international agencies, but Israel’s restrictions have rendered these efforts largely futile. The result is a population left to endure not only the physical scars of war but also the profound psychological and social challenges of living with untreated hearing loss.