A study examines the impact of media coverage of the Gaza conflict on the mental health and academic motivation of Palestinian university students. Conducted through a mixed-methods approach, the research involved qualitative interviews with 15 students and a quantitative survey of 624 students. The findings indicate that following news about the Gaza assault significantly increases levels of depression and anxiety, which in turn negatively affect academic motivation. Students reported moderate engagement with Gaza-related news and high levels of depression, while anxiety levels were relatively low. Females experienced higher depression and anxiety compared to males. Humanities students engaged more with Gaza news, while science students showed greater motivation. Students in advanced academic years faced worse mental health and lower motivation. Those from refugee camps and individuals who had lost family members reported higher distress and lower motivation, with more than an hour of daily news viewing correlating with increased anxiety. The study concludes that the ongoing media coverage serves as a secondary trauma, emphasizing the urgent need for mental health support and resilience-focused interventions in university environments during times of conflict.