Light-hearted chatter ripples through a tent in central Gaza as a boy in a wheelchair gently strokes a white rabbit and another stands entranced by a bright green bird.
For a moment, this group of young children who have lived through the devastation wrought by two years of gruelling war are captivated by the joy provided by the animals around them.
"The natural presence of animals and birds, with their vibrant colours, absorbs negative energy," said Rashid Anbar, who runs animal-assisted psychological support sessions in Al-Zawayda camp.
"Interacting with them fosters an atmosphere of happiness and positive energy," he added, saying the children's reactions left him feeling "encouraged" too.
The war, sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has killed at least 72,568 people in Gaza, displaced nearly its entire population and reduced swathes of the Palestinian territory to rubble.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people still live in tents, and conditions remain dire despite a ceasefire that came into effect in October.
The devastation is acutely felt by the youngest in society.
Sima Alami, adolescent and youth programme officer at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said in March that more than one million children in Gaza needed mental health and psychological support services.
"Sadly, 96% of these children feel that death is imminent, reflecting the depth of the fear and trauma they experience daily," she added, describing a "widespread mental health emergency" across the Palestinian territories.
'Overcome fear'
Colourful paintings hang from the plastic tent walls of a makeshift art studio in Zawayda, where more than a dozen children sit in a circle clapping and giggling as Mr Anbar conducts his session.
One young girl beams as several small birds sit on her arms, shoulders and head, with a particularly inquisitive one nibbling one of her earrings.
Along with the rabbit and birds, the children are able to pet a small tortoise, a hedgehog and a fluffy white dog.
"The purpose is to enhance therapy and learning through playing with animals. It is about fostering a culture of kindness towards animals and cultivating a generation with a sense of compassion for them," Mr Anbar said.
"It aims to help children overcome their fear barriers by engaging in play with animals, touching them, and acquiring knowledge about them including the specific species to which they belong, what covers their bodies, such as feathers or fur, and whether they give birth or lay eggs."
Mr Anbar said he had found many domestic animals abandoned on the streets during the war.
"I decided to gather these animals and use them for therapeutic purposes so I could care for them, knowing if they stay on the streets, they could die," he explained.
Airstrikes and firefights between Israel's military and what it says are Hamas fighters still occur on a near-daily basis in Gaza despite the truce.
According to the territory's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, at least 792 people have been killed by Israel's military since the start of the ceasefire.
The military says five of its soldiers have also been killed in Gaza over the same period.
