War-Related Psychological Trauma and Learning Loss Among Students in the Gaza Strip: An Analytical Review

faced an educational crisis without precedent in its recent history, compounded by widespread psychological trauma among school-age children and university students. This paper offers an analytical review of the relationship between war-related psychological trauma and learning loss among Palestinian students in Gaza. Drawing on institutional reports from UNRWA, UNICEF, and UNESCO alongside recent peer-reviewed studies on the mental health of Palestinian students, the paper synthesizes evidence on the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, and traces their documented effects on concentration, motivation, and academic performance. It further examines the structural collapse of the education sector — school closures, infrastructure destruction, and mass displacement — as a compounding factor rather than a separate problem. The analysis suggests a reinforcing cycle in which psychological trauma erodes learning capacity while the breakdown of schooling itself deepens psychological distress. The paper concludes that any credible recovery plan for Gaza's education sector must treat psychosocial support not as a supplementary service but as a core condition for restoring learning.