Whereas, for the past two years, the Israeli army’s bombing raids on Gaza have resulted in at least 47,460 deaths, which includes over 17,800 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry as of January 30, 2025 with injuries exceeding 111,580.

Whereas, children account for approximately 44% of the total deaths. Many children remain unaccounted for under rubble, and the toll could be higher due to challenges in identifying remains and recovering bodies.

Whereas, a recent Lancet study suggests that the actual death toll may be underestimated by over 40%, potentially pushing fatalities higher than official figures;

Whereas, children still alive in Gaza experience complex continuous trauma, characterized by ongoing exposure to multiple traumatic events. This results in symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), including emotional dysregulation, hypervigilance, flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and a pervasive sense of helplessness and hopelessness;

Whereas, approximately 85-90% of educational facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Whereas, the CFT advocates for children and their education everywhere in the world; and children cannot engage in learning, even if schools existed, when they suffer from extreme trauma.

Therefore, be it resolved, that CFT will contribute to American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

Submitted by United Teachers Los Angeles, AFT Local 1021