Virtual reality offers escape to Gaza children injured in Israeli war | Israeli-Palestinian conflict News

VR headsets offer injured and traumatized Palestinian children some respite from the hardships of war-torn Gaza.

Under a makeshift tent in the heart of the besieged Gaza Strip, Israel’s genocidal war, which destroyed neighborhoods, schools and hospitals, decimated families and shattered lives for more than two years, no longer exists.

Virtual reality technology takes Palestinian children struggling with physical and psychological injuries to a distant world, where they can feel safe again.

“After being injured in the head, I try to forget the pain,” Salah Abu Rukba, a Palestinian child participating in the sessions, told Al Jazeera at the VR tent in az-Zawayda, central Gaza.

“When I put on the headset, I forget the injury. I feel comforted by forgetting the destruction, the war, and even the noise of the drones disappears.”

Lama Abu Dalal, head of communications at Gaza MedTech – the technology initiative leading the project – said Abu Rukba and the others have constant memories of the war etched into their bodies.

But the VR headset makes them forget their life-changing injuries and simply become kids again, if only for a few moments.

Gaza MedTech was started by Palestinian innovator Mosab Ali, who used virtual reality to comfort his injured son. Ali was later killed in an Israeli attack.

Studies have confirmed that virtual reality can have beneficial effects in the treatment of mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is difficult to maintain this service in Gaza because spare parts of the equipment cannot enter Gaza due to the blockade imposed by Israel.

Since a ceasefire officially took effect on October 10, Israel has authorized somewhat more aid, although far less than Gaza needs and what the agreement clearly stipulated. Israel continues to restrict the free flow of humanitarian aid and medical supplies.

Gaza authorities say the truce has been violated by Israel at least 738 times since it took effect.

The United Nations estimates that more than 90 percent of Gaza’s children are showing signs of severe stress due to the loss of security and stability, and will need long-term support to heal from the psychological effects of the conflict.

Several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN humanitarian office OCHA and independent UN experts, have called for immediate and unhindered access to Gaza for essential medical equipment and psychological support.