What comes to your mind when you hear the word “children”? The word “children” typically evokes images of kids playing in the playground, attending school, or sharing meals with their families. Rarely does it conjure images of wounded children with fatal injuries, blood-dripping clothes dusted with cement, and left in hunger. However, what are nightmares to us have become the harsh reality for children in the Gaza Strip.

One child dies every ten minutes in Gaza, ever since the initiation of a massive Israeli military offensive since October 7, 2023. As of December 4, 2023, Israeli forces have killed 6,600 children, constituting more than 40 percent of the total death toll, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. The actual number is likely higher, considering that 1,000 children are missing and assumed to be buried under rubble.

What can we do to break the silence about this brutal genocide and provide these children with the childhood they deserve?

A glance at the Israel-Gaza tension

[A Struggle-Filled Past: Disposition of Palestinians, Creation of Israel, Zionism, and Al-Nakba]

The conflict can be traced back for decades, if not centuries. The land on which modern-day Israel and Palestine stand holds immaculate significance among Muslims, Christians, Jews, and followers of other religions in the world. It is held sacred, known as the Holy Land.

Palestine was a land where 645,000 Arabs, 55,000 Jews, and Christians (circa 1906) lived in harmony. However, in the 20th century, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, British forces took control over Palestine. British rule in Palestine was administered under a ‘mandate’ by the League of Nations until 1948. The 1917 “Balfour Declaration,” which supported “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” was incorporated into the British mandate. Between 1922 and 1948, significant Jewish immigration, primarily from Eastern Europe, occurred. The influx intensified in the 1930s due to Nazi persecution.

Zionist militias attacked Arabs and forced them to flee. Zionism, a political movement that began in the late nineteenth century, advocated for the establishment of a Jewish state. Israel Zangwill, a prominent Zionist leader, stated, “Palestine is a land without people for a landless people.” This suggests a viewpoint that disregards the existing Palestinian population in the region, implying an idea that the land was vacant or under-utilised. Even, the Zionist pioneers characterised Palestine as “Virgin Land,” fostering the notion that the land was available for Jewish settlement without consideration for the indigenous population.

Tension rose among the Arabs and Jewish immigrants, and an uprising in 1937 resulted from Arab demands for independence and opposition to immigration. As unrest prevailed in the region, British authorities were challenged to find a resolution. Thus, they turned the matter over to the United Nations (UN).

In 1947, notwithstanding the strong opposition of Arabs, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine and Israel as individual states, with Jerusalem governed by an international entity. Although Jews made up only a third of the population, they were handed more than half, 56 percent, of the land by the UN, whereas Palestine received 44 percent, which was their own-inhabited land to begin with. The Jews accepted the proposition and unilaterally declared the State of Israel to be an independent state on May 14, 1948. While it was a year of celebration for the Jewish community, the scenario for Arabs was far more somber.

A full-scale war broke out between Arabs and Israel, known as the first Arab-Israeli War. Being victorious, Israel conquered 26 percent more territory than the initial 1947 partition plan and controlled 81 percent of the land. This resulted in ethnic cleansing and the forced displacement of 700,000 Palestinians, popularly known as “Al-Nakba” in Arabic, meaning the catastrophe.

The aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War led to the displacement of an extra 300,000 Palestinians. The unjust and illegal oppression of Palestinians has persisted throughout the years, depriving them of the most fundamental aspects of human dignity.

To no surprise, the barbaric oppression of the past 75 years still exists today. Grave violations of basic rights occur on a systematic basis, including the invasion of Palestinian homes by the military, a blockade on Gaza since 2007 that isolates them from the rest of the world, the illegal settlement of Israelites in the West Bank of Palestine, which is ironically admired as a national value, frequent violent raids on refugee and displacement camps, the confiscation of possessions from Palestinians, ethnic and racial cleansing, airstrikes on schools and hospitals, methodical privileges for Jewish Israelis and discrimination against Palestinians, and the formulation of policies to perpetuate such disparities against the Palestinian people.

These are just a few examples of the crimes that Israel executes against humanity. The lack of accountability for these transgressions has allowed the horrific violence to persist today.

Present-day situation in Gaza

What we see happening now in Gaza is nothing but persecution and apartheid—terms one would expect to be erased in this new age, when humankind is expected to be more empathetic toward one another. However, that is not the reality. Here, the justification for killing thousands of innocent children and women is found in calling them “human animals.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned, “We are fighting human animals” and called for a “complete siege” in Gaza on October 9, 2023.

“Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children,” says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on November 6, 2023, while calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Since October 7, the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas, a militant Palestinian nationalist and Islamist movement dedicated to the establishment of an autonomous Islamic state in Palestine, has resulted in beastly, inhumane killing of Palestinian civilians. Israel promised to wipe out Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and they carried out ceaseless airstrikes, commenced ground invasion, and put a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. They imposed an overall blockade of water, food, medical supplies, fuel, and denied all humanitarian aid other than the absolute bare minimum.

This matter is viewed as collective punishment for the civilian population and raise concerns about the grave risks that it poses for children. Schools sheltering displaced people, hospitals treating wounded double their capacity, refugee camps overcrowded with women, children, and the elderly could not manage to escape from the barbaric slaughter of the Israeli forces. With tens of thousands seeking refuge in schools, at least 1.5 million Palestinians have been forced from their homes. Israel continues war crimes in Gaza by intentionally destroying the medical infrastructure after causing mass casualties. It is hard for medical workers to operate as electricity is cut off, there is no fuel for electricity, and a complete blockade in the strip makes medical supplies inaccessible, rendering health facilities almost non-functioning.

Repeated attacks on Jabalia Refugee Camp, one of the most densely populated camps in Gaza (Left). The bombing of Ahli Arab Hospital, the largest public Christian hospital in Gaza City sheltering and treating thousands of people, killing nearly 500 (Center). A child seriously injured in Khan Yunis, Southern Gaza (Right).

Israel perpetrates inhumane attacks on multiple hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Among the targets are Ahli Arab Hospital, Al-Rantisi & Al Nassr Children’s Hospital, and vital facilities like power generators and solar panels at Al-Wafa Hospital. Al Hilo Hospital and the crucial maternity institution, Al-Shifa Hospital, are also affected. The atrocities extend to burning ambulances transporting critical patients, constituting an ongoing assault on healthcare infrastructure in the region.

The unborn child is even destined to experience cruelty, enduring the same fate as their mothers who are burned. In Gaza, there is an estimated 50,000 pregnant women who lack proper medical care for safe childbirth and newborn care. The unsanitary conditions and elevated risk of infection and complications force some women to deliver their babies in inadequate shelters, homes, on the streets amidst rubble, or in an overcrowded medical facility.

Moreover, due to power outages, premature newborns in incubators within intensive care units have tragically lost their lives, and others remain at risk. Despite the absence of any substantiated evidence supporting the targeting of innocent individuals and the vulnerable, Israel has repeatedly made claims, such as “Hamas's cynical use of hospitals.” It is crucial to note that hospitals and ambulances hold the protected status under international humanitarian law.

The devastating impact of conflict on the children of Gaza

“When I woke up after surgery, I asked my brother, where is my leg? He lied to me and said it was right there, and that I couldn’t feel it because of anaesthesia. My cousin told me the truth the next day.” - Ahmad Abu Shahmah

Ahmad Abu Shahmah, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who always dreamt of becoming a footballer, was severely injured in Israeli airstrikes and lost his leg. He had joined a football academy one week prior to the war.

I’ll get an artificial leg and continue my studies, so I can achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. I will be strong for me and for my family. - Lana

Lana, a 14-year-old, reveals the heartbreaking truth that she lost a leg in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike. As the dreams of some Gazan children shatter, others find their aspirations obliterated along with them. To date, 6,000 children have been killed in Gaza. Besides taking a physical toll, the relentless bombing has left the children with permanent trauma and had a horrendous effect on their mental health.

The never-ending attacks have the following impacts on the children of Gaza:

1. Profound psychological distress and unrecoverable trauma

2. Life-changing injuries, dreadful physical condition, and disability

3. Risk of an outbreak of life-threatening diseases, such as waterborne or respiratory

4. Starvation, malnutrition, and severe dehydration

5. Disruption of long-term learning

6. Losing family and loved ones

7. No safe place, continuous displacement

8. Abduction and torture in jail

As per the aid agency, there has been a significant deterioration in the psychological well-being of young individuals in Gaza. These youths have been deeply affected by witnessing horrifying events, resulting in fear becoming deeply ingrained in their memories. The lack of a safe place shakes them with terror, worry, and anxiety. They suffer from bad insomnia, distressing flashbacks, bottling up emotions, being withdrawn from loved ones, and the list goes on. 80% of children reported feeling in a perpetual state of fear, worry, sadness, and grief.

The Euro-Med Monitor report says that 241 children lost one or both parents as a result of the bombing, about 5,400 children lost their homes. It has also been commonly found in multiple studies that the majority of Gazan youth show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to Paul Boxer at Rutgers University, the children from Palestine exhibited the greatest degree of PTS symptoms in the world. A 15-year-old child in Gaza has lived through five periods of prolonged, intensive bombardment: 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, and now 2023.

Medical professionals from the organization “Doctors Without Borders” have revealed that there is a significant influx of orphaned children in need of medical care. This has led to the creation of a new acronym, “WCNSF,” which stands for Wounded Child No Surviving Family, specifically to identify these children. In the current scenario, safety, security, and routine are absent, leaving thousands displaced.

Salim Oweis, a UNICEF Communications Officer, states, “We are jeopardising a generation with enduring psychological damage.”

Oweis expresses serious worry about the lasting emotional effects on Palestinian young people caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Oweis emphasises the immediate importance of focusing on the mental well-being and health of Palestinian youth in order to minimise the enduring consequences of the conflict on them.

Photographs depict the hardships endured by the children of Gaza.

Children in Gaza Strip shelters engage in recreational activities to alleviate the fatigue stemming from the impact of war.

Buried dreams and nightmares for youth in Gaza

The dreams of individuals are often filled with hope and ambition as they look towards the future. This holds true for the youth in Gaza, who envision themselves as doctors, astronauts, pilots, and leaders. However, amidst these aspirations, there are times when their dreams become more basic and essential. For instance, Kenan, a 10-year-old Palestinian boy longs for the opportunity to return to school and have access to food.

Similar to Kenan, thousands of children in Gaza simply dream of having bread, living life without the horrific conflict, staying alive, or dying in peace at an old age. They aspire to become doctors and engineers so that when another destruction befalls them, they can treat their people and reconstruct their home. However, the dark nightmare prevails, with so many dreams unrealized. Dreams evaporate, and what these children are waking up to is the reality that they cannot escape.

Many, like Ahmad Abu Shahmah, lose their capability to fulfil their dreams due to unrecoverable injuries while others die with their dreams. Some forget to dream at all as calamity and uncertainty surround them. Despite Gaza being a potential land of shattered dreams, its people are steadfast in not giving up on their aspirations for freedom from horrors and a life of peace.

Immediate steps that could save lives in Gaza today

Amidst this genocide, the most crucial step that needs to be taken is an immediate ceasefire. Furthermore, everyone should be aware of the humanitarian degradation occurring in Gaza today. Violating all child protection acts, the exploitation of children for geopolitical causes is inexcusable and should be brought to light. No child should be exploited as a hostage or as a tool in armed conflict. International humanitarian law mandates that schools and hospitals be shielded from bombs and not exploited for military objectives. Every child has the right to safety and access to services that are essential.

People should learn more about the Palestinian people and their years of struggle, and take further actions against oppression. Through protests, marches, and rallies, demand a permanent ceasefire. It is high time we speak up against violence against innocent lives. Together with government and non-government organizations, we need to make efforts to raise donations along with humanitarian aid and deliver them securely to the Gazan people. Hold the rulers accountable for the bloodshed in Gaza. We must remind ourselves of a statement by Catherine Russell of UNICEF, “In all wars, it is children who suffer first and suffer most,” and reflect on it.

From Paris to Karachi, tens of thousands of people around the world march in support of ceasefire in Palestine.

Epilogue

As winter approaches and chilly winds blow, thousands of Palestinian families are displaced, seeking shelter under the open sky. To surmise, we must not cease discussing this man-made disaster that forces innocent children to bear the price. We must take a stance against violence, war crimes, and the deterioration of human principles. Together, we can provide these children with a childhood full of happiness, a childhood to which they are entitled.