Gaza's autistic children face trauma and treatment gaps amid ongoing conflict

In Khan Younis, 16-year-old Ahmed Hatem al-Mahabeel, diagnosed with autism, copes with constant explosions by repetitive hand movements, a response to his heightened noise sensitivity. The destruction of his bedroom, school and football academy has erased the supportive environment he once relied on. His mother, Umm Ahmed, describes severe panic attacks and self-harm when blasts occur, as well as a serious medical episode caused by malnutrition.

Across Gaza, continuous shelling forces autistic children like 19-year-old Muneer al-Haj in Nuseirat camp into behavioral relapses, including screaming fits and seizure-like symptoms, worsened by reduced access to sedatives. Psychological specialist Diaa Abu Aoun notes that the loss of predictable routines triggers insomnia, digestive problems and intense distress. The World Health Organization reports no rehabilitation equipment entered Gaza between May 2024 and April, while the Palestine Center for Special Education was destroyed and its director, Arij Abu Sultan, killed, leaving families to assume therapeutic roles. Reem Jarour of the Dolphins Association stresses that the collapse of these ecosystems threatens the long-term development of autistic children in the enclave.