Specialists in Gaza are observing a concerning increase in children losing their ability to speak, a phenomenon attributed to war-related injuries or severe psychological trauma stemming from repeated exposure to violence. This "silent suffering," as described by child psychotherapist Katrin Glatz Brubakk, affects children like five-year-old Jad Zohud, who became mute after a bombardment, and four-year-old Lucine Tamboura, whose speech was impacted by a fall from a damaged staircase. While some cases involve physical injuries such as head trauma, many others, like selective mutism or hysterical aphonia, are functional losses of voice linked to extreme distress where the brain enters a "freeze response." Doctors warn of potential long-term developmental consequences if these conditions, exacerbated by the collapse of healthcare services, are not addressed.