Children's Trauma of 'Betrayal' Post-October 7th Affects Trust and Safety

Three years into the ongoing conflict, many children continue to suffer from profound psychological harm, experiencing a loss of safety and trust in their protectors. Experts identify a new dimension to this trauma: a crisis of faith in those meant to ensure their security, including parents and the state. This "betrayal trauma," as described by professionals, manifests as frustration, confusion, and often leads to verbal and physical aggression, vandalism, anxiety, and a challenge to the authority of parents and teachers.

Professor Asher Ben-Arieh, a researcher in child welfare and rights and chairman of the Ofek center at the Hebrew University, explains that this trauma is unique, characterized by a sense of betrayal when the safest place, home, becomes a source of harm. He likens it to ongoing abuse where protectors fail, noting that the full extent of the October 7th trauma is still not understood. "The element of betrayal is just one aspect," he stated, adding that understanding and effective treatment will take many years.

The Ofek center, established after the October 7th massacre, is developing new rehabilitation models implemented in schools. Noa Petruska Afek, director of Ofek, highlights that children and teenagers exhibit symptoms like trust crises, vandalism, and violence as expressions of distrust and resistance to the system. She emphasizes the need for new support systems designed through listening to those affected and adapting to reality.

Statistics reveal the scale of the impact: since the war began, 69 children have been killed and over 1,500 hospitalized due to war-related injuries. In the second year of the war, diagnoses of anxiety among teenagers increased by a third, and eating disorder diagnoses rose by a quarter. Additionally, approximately 275,000 children had a parent serving long periods in reserve duty.

Psychologist Yona Burshtein notes that the war has created new trauma types, including loss of trust and eroded feelings of security. Student leaders like Rotem Geteride, Lian Hajaj, and Talia Ben-Baruch describe persistent anxiety, confusion, and a feeling that normal life has not returned, even as efforts are made to resume routine. The Ministry of Education states that its psychological-counseling services are continuously supporting students and educational staff with targeted interventions, expanded counseling hours, and specialized training to foster resilience and a sense of continuity.