Gaza’s Young Survivors Find Solace in Art Amid Ongoing Conflict

Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – Maryam sits before a blank sheet of paper, pencil poised as she begins to sketch. Her gaze focuses intently on the emerging lines while her hand moves steadily across the page.

In a reality shaped by ongoing conflict, 16-year-old Maryam seeks to craft a different world for herself, even if only for a few precious hours. The simple combination of paper and pencil offers her an escape from her surroundings and a return to something she deeply loves.

Maryam’s family home was destroyed in January 2024, and she now resides with her grandmother in Deir el-Balah. She has experienced profound loss, including the death of her uncle among the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed since October 2023.

The art space where she draws—a studio within a local café near the beach—has become a sanctuary.

“This space helped me reconnect with myself and rediscover my passion for drawing,” she shares.

For Maryam, drawing transcends mere hobby—it’s a method of translating emotions onto paper, particularly those too complex to articulate verbally.

“I experience a profound sense of relief, as though I can transfer my feelings onto the page rather than keeping them locked inside,” Maryam explains. “Each drawing allows me to express a part of what I feel and share it in my own way, even things I sometimes cannot speak about.”

A Haven for Creative Expression

Maryam has been drawing since childhood, but began regularly attending this art space in April when it opened its doors.

She finds that completing each drawing brings a sense of accomplishment and cultivates hope during difficult times.

“It gave me something to look forward to each day, with drawing becoming part of my daily routine. Every day I complete a new piece, and it plants seeds of hope within me,” Maryam reflects. “Without drawing, I believe I would have succumbed to depression given the challenges I’ve faced. Instead, I’ve found strength and learned new techniques every day.”

Creating opportunities for children like Maryam is the driving force behind 35-year-old Abdullah al-Ghafri establishing this art space—and his commitment to sustaining it despite mounting financial pressures from rental costs and ongoing searches for funding partners.

“The concept emerged from necessity and our current circumstances,” al-Ghafri explains. “With most educational and cultural facilities in Gaza either damaged or destroyed, there was nowhere left to nurture the creative potential of our youth.”

“Our primary objective is to transport participants from an environment of conflict and ruin into one of creativity and healing,” al-Ghafri adds. “We aim to create a venue where negative energy can transform into positivity and hope.”

Creative Coping Strategies

According to psychologist Asil Abu Shawish, art serves as a powerful outlet for children and adolescents grappling with trauma.

“When children draw, sing, or play instruments, they’re essentially releasing built-up emotional pressure,” she notes.

Abu Shawish emphasizes that having consistent access to safe spaces for artistic expression provides psychological stability during periods of uncertainty.

“Knowing they have dedicated time for creative activities helps children reclaim control over part of their lives—an incredibly important psychological benefit,” she states.

As conflict persists beyond official ceasefire declarations, children continue facing elevated levels of anxiety, fear, and grief. Abu Shawish therefore sees artistic engagement as offering young people healthier mechanisms for processing these emotions.

“While art isn’t a cure-all for war-related trauma, it plays a vital role in emotional processing when activities match developmental needs and occur under proper supervision,” she explains.

The effectiveness of such programs becomes evident during sessions through children’s social interactions and engagement levels.

“Sometimes we witness a previously withdrawn child beginning to connect with peers through drawing or music. These creative outlets often serve as bridges to forming relationships, initiating conversations, or simply creating feelings of security,” she observes.

She notes that many children find artistic expression more accessible than verbal communication.

“Not all children can articulate feelings like ‘I’m scared’ or ‘I’m grieving’ or ‘I’ve suffered loss.’ They might instead represent these emotions visually, select songs that resonate with their inner state, or channel feelings through instrumental performance.”

Thus, regular artistic participation becomes a sustainable strategy for managing adversity.

Soundtrack to Healing

In Nuseirat, Jabr Thabet coordinates musical programs with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music at the Palestinian Student Care Association, where children gather to learn singing and play various instruments.

“We strive to bring music directly to children regardless of location changes or facility damage,” Thabet, serving as projects and venue coordinator for the Conservatory’s Gaza branch, explains. “Our mission extends beyond music instruction—we’re providing moments of normalcy, joy, and peer connection.”

Following damage to their Gaza City facility, conservatory instructors have adapted by conducting sessions throughout displacement areas including Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, and Gaza City.

Throughout these mobile sessions, Thabet observes children’s responses to music from arrival through program completion. “What stands out most is their enthusiasm. Children arrive eager to learn something new and leave asking when they can return.”

“Music enables children to express their inner experiences differently. While some struggle verbally, they find their voice through song or instrumental performance,” he adds.

Thabet views art as an act of resistance: “When children can create beauty amid destruction, they preserve fragments of their humanity and identity.”

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