October 7, 2026, Atlanta, Ga. — Today marks three years since the terrorist attacks of October 7, when more than a thousand Israelis and foreign nationals were killed and families and communities were forever changed. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and continue to carry the profound grief and trauma of that day.
My thoughts are also with the countless Palestinian families who, in the years since, have endured immense loss and hardship. At least 75,000 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza and the West Bank since October 7, including more than 20,000 Palestinian children. And even this devastating figure does not capture the true human toll; it reflects deaths formally registered by hospitals and morgues, excluding people still missing beneath the rubble and those who have died indirectly as a result of hunger, disease and the collapse of essential services.
Families have been displaced repeatedly, some many times over, and millions continue to face severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza. And the suffering extends beyond Gaza. Across the West Bank, Palestinians continue to face escalating violence, forced displacement, demolitions and restrictions that are eroding their safety, livelihoods and ability to live with dignity.
A ceasefire was reached nearly a year ago, but it has not ended the violence or the humanitarian crisis. People are still dying, and civilians continue to carry the cost. The burden continues to fall especially heavily on women, mothers, and girls. One displaced mother who spoke to CARE put that reality into stark terms: “I cry when I sleep; I cry when I wake up. During the day, I try to be strong for my children.” Her words capture the daily hellscape, deprivation, and struggle facing families across Gaza.
It is not acceptable for the international community to allow major violations of international laws to go unaddressed while millions are harmed. This matters to the lives of people experiencing conflict everywhere. It is far past time for actions to be taken that uphold these laws and to bring this war and suffering to an end.
For media inquiries, please email usa.media@care.org