Scientists warn that Gaza’s ongoing war will leave a genetic legacy, as death counts rise and survivors face trauma, hunger, and epigenetic changes that threaten future generations.
Death Toll and Underreporting
Health Ministry estimates that over 66,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, including nearly 20,000 children, but the true number is likely higher.
Estimated Total Fatalities
Researchers in The Lancet suggest that the final casualty count, adding those buried under rubble, famine victims, and those denied medical care, could be 3 to 15 times higher than the direct death toll.
Long‑Term Impact on Children
Studies of prior genocides and famines show that hunger, stress and trauma cause epigenetic changes that alter gene expression, a process transmitted from one generation to the next.
Epigenetic Evidence from Past Crises
Research on Dutch famine survivors, Holocaust survivors, and Rwandan genocide victims demonstrates that adults bereft of adequate nutrition or subject to extreme stress exhibit higher rates of schizophrenia, depression, cardiovascular disease and altered stress hormone regulation.
Current Conditions Likely to Cause Genetic Damage
Researchers predict that the hostile environment in Gaza—starvation, displacement, violence—will leave epigenetic marks that could impair health for future generations, even if peace is achieved soon.
