The Ministry of Welfare reports that the terrorist attack left 21 children from 13 families without parents.
The Ministry clarifies that these are children whose both parents are absent due to the terrorist attack: they are either killed, missing, or kidnapped. In addition, there is one 4-year-old girl who lost both of her parents in the attack and was abducted to Gaza, and another girl lost her mother in the terrorist attack while her father was kidnapped to Gaza.
The Ministry of Welfare has deployed social workers who have established contact with all the families in which the 20 children who are in Israel are staying, providing them with guidance and assistance.
"The office is prepared to provide long-term and trauma-focused care"
The Minister of Welfare, Ya'akov Margi, stated, "The fact that so many children are victims of the cruel attack by Hamas is heartbreaking. I have instructed the relevant professionals in the Ministry to streamline every process and expedite the assistance to both the children and the foster families affected by this tragic event. The Ministry of Welfare is prepared to provide long-term trauma-focused care for every child who has suffered from this unjust attack, especially those who have been orphaned. The State of Israel will be their mother and father, taking care of them throughout their lives, and we will spare no effort and resources to help them recover."
In the wake of the events, the Ministry of Welfare, along with local authorities, took action to identify all the children who were affected during the terrorist attack, particularly those who lost both parents in the attack or were left without parents in Israel. The Ministry and social service departments established contact with all the families in which the children reside, and specialized teams will provide them with a comprehensive care package, including emotional, psychological, material, and legal support from all relevant authorities. Additionally, the Ministry is working to organize the families' status over a three-month period during which the children and families' situations will be assessed, and responses will be provided to address their needs.
"We ask to embrace the children and work to enforce their rights without bureaucracy"
"Every child is a world in and of itself, and most of the children, in addition to losing their parents, were also present during the horrors of the terrorist attacks," says Eti Kisos, Deputy Director of Social Services, responsible for locating the children. "Many have lost a parent or other family members during the terrorist attacks, and we will also need to take care of them. But it was essential for us to reach the children who are left without a father and mother as quickly as possible, to ensure they are in a safe place, to assist the families currently caring for them, and to provide them with the security that the State of Israel is with them and will continue to support and accompany them in the future. We ask to embrace the children and their families and allow them to process the trauma and work to enforce their rights without bureaucracy."
Ynon Aharoni, Director-General of the Ministry of Welfare, further added, "In addition to the central role that the Ministry of Welfare has in treating those affected by this crisis, one of the horrific aspects of the terrorist attack is the orphaned children, and we do not forget them for a moment. We embrace these children and assure them, along with all government ministries that are partners, that we will be their support, accompany them, and take care of them both in the short term and the long term."
