Childhood Under Fire: Shocking Realities of Palestinian Children’s Lives

The word “suffering” barely scratches the surface of the horrors endured by Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where genocide, starvation, and the collapse of healthcare systems have become routine. These adversities do not discriminate by age or social class, yet children, alongside women, bear the brunt of this devastation.

This article sheds light on the severe challenges faced by Palestinian children within Gaza and beyond, as the brutal war stretches into yet another year. The compounded effects of forced displacement and the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation have turned childhood into a battlefield.

The Killing of Palestinian Children

With over 44,000 Palestinians martyred and 100,000 others injured in the ongoing aggression on Gaza, the numbers reveal a grim truth. According to a United Nations report, 70% of casualties are women and children. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics confirms that since the start of the aggression, around 17,580 children have been killed in Gaza. However, Palestinian sources suggest that the number is far greater due to the difficulty of retrieving bodies buried under rubble.

Heartbreakingly, some children were born during the war only to lose their lives shortly after. Gaza’s Ministry of Health documented that 180 children were born and subsequently martyred during the conflict, alongside 800 infants under the age of one who did not survive.

The killings are not confined to Gaza. In the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, 168 children were martyred from October 7, 2023, onwards, under the pretext of baseless accusations by Israeli forces.

Children Deprived of Family Warmth

The atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Gaza are unrelenting, with over 12,000 women killed since the start of the aggression. This tragic toll has left thousands of children orphaned. A UNICEF report from July 2024 estimates that over 17,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both parents, while countless others have been separated from their families due to ground offensives, the division of Gaza, and ongoing forced displacement.

Disturbing videos show infants and toddlers arriving at Gaza’s hospitals unaccompanied, with no surviving family members to claim them. In response, international organizations have coined the term WCNSF (Wounded Child with No Surviving Family) to describe these tragic cases. These children face an uncertain future, stripped of the basic warmth and stability that family provides.

From Psychological Terror to Starvation

Palestinian children endure deliberate psychological terror. Israeli forces invade homes, destroy them, and leave behind shattered lives. Experts highlight severe psychological consequences among children, particularly in Gaza, where symptoms include:

• • Excessive and persistent anxiety.

• • Loss of appetite.

• • Difficulty sleeping and night terrors.

• • Panic attacks triggered by the sound of explosions.

Some children have even succumbed to heart attacks induced by the extreme fear of bombings, as captured in videos shared by Gaza-based activists.

The Israeli siege compounds this suffering with starvation. Children in Gaza are denied sufficient food and clean water, resulting in widespread malnutrition. According to UNICEF, 31% of children in northern Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition, meaning 1 in every 3 children under the age of two shows severe symptoms. The prevalence of malnutrition among children under five in northern Gaza has risen from 13% to 25%, while WHO reports that 90% of Gaza’s children suffer from some form of malnutrition.

Denial of Medical Care

Israel’s deliberate targeting of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Infectious diseases spread unchecked, with WHO reporting that 90% of children under five in Gaza are infected with at least one disease. The lack of medical supplies and trained staff leaves these children vulnerable to preventable deaths.

Reports from January 2024 reveal that over 1,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both legs due to the conflict. Many of these surgeries were performed without anesthesia, given the dire shortages of medical equipment and staff in Gaza’s besieged hospitals.

Imprisonment of Palestinian Children

Israeli forces arrest hundreds of Palestinian children annually, treating them as adult prisoners. This includes both boys and underage girls, who endure brutal physical and psychological abuse. The ordeal begins with severe beatings at the time of arrest and continues during their transportation in military vehicles, where they face constant assaults and verbal abuse.

Once in detention centers, children are subjected to grueling interrogations designed to coerce confessions for crimes they did not commit. They are denied basic rights, including the right to education, and their families are often forced to pay exorbitant fines. House arrests and bans on attending school are also common, further depriving these children of a semblance of normalcy.

Conclusion

Palestinian children are enduring unimaginable suffering under the relentless siege and aggression of Israeli forces. From the loss of family and home to the physical and psychological toll of war, their lives have been irrevocably altered. International organizations must act decisively to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its war crimes and ensure justice for the children of Palestine, who deserve a future free from oppression and fear.

References:

• • Al Jazeera (22/2/2024): Link

• • WHO: Link

• • Al Jazeera (8/10/2024): Link

• • Al Jazeera (8/11/2024): Link

• • Alaraby TV (1/10/2024): Link

• • Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics: Link

• • Shireen Observatory: Link

• • UN: Link