New Delhi, Dec. 4 -- In Gaza's war-torn ruins, kids trade schoolbooks for scrap metal hunts; Pope Leo insists two-state solution is sole path out of Israel's relentless assault, as students defy bombs to reclaim classrooms and families fracture over life-saving transplants.

Children Bearing the Burden of War

Fifteen-year-old Mohammed Ashour exemplifies the grim reality faced by Gaza's children. Forced to abandon school following his father's death in the conflict, Mohammed now roams Gaza City streets selling coffee to sustain his family. His mother, Atad Ashour, laments the loss of their sole provider and the absence of employment opportunities for Mohammed's older siblings.

Children like Mohammed are increasingly becoming the primary ...