Author: Rokhsar Sadat
Global Campus of Human Rights (CES), American University of Central Asia, Bishkek

Introduction:

Imagine for a moment that at the age of 14, the only things you have to look forward to in life are bombs and violence. It might be likened to witnessing one’s home burn down, losing track of all of one’s loved ones, and not knowing who will be killed next. For hundreds of children growing up in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, this is their reality. A recent survey by Save the Children found a stunning truth. Currently, 95% of children in Palestine show indicators of poor mental health, including sadness, hyperactivity, isolation, and aggressive conduct.[1]

War, particularly the recent Israeli attack, has shattered Palestinian society, with children suffering the most stress. The attacks on civilian facilities such as schools and hospitals have also contributed to their anguish by making them feel vulnerable and abandoned. The dread, uncertainty, and loss of loved ones and homes create a storm of trauma that appears to leave a permanent impression on the lives of those affected.

This is a crisis of the future as much as the present. As a result, the psychological trauma induced by the war in such youngsters, combined with other social vices like unemployment and poverty, poses a significant challenge to an entire generation. The international community must realize the need of providing mental health assistance to Palestinian children. Their concerns cannot be ignored. Their future should not be like this.

Trauma of Children in Palestine:

The world community is unaware that Palestinian youngsters are suffering from a trauma that will last a lifetime. This is despite the UN documenting and reporting on their suffering as victims of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This is cumulative. These are complex continuous trauma (CCT) traumatic stressors that have taken on a life of their own. They are no longer just isolated incidents or one event after another.[2]

Imagine yourself waking up every day with the knowledge that there are always bombs buzzing in your ears. There is no place that is safe. No home remains standing. And fear will never leave anyone on this planet. For children in Palestine, this is their reality in the Gaza Strip as a result of the attacks and the embargo.

Impact of Attacks and Embargo

Since the start of the civil war in 2008, their area has seen multiple military incursions. Furthermore, Gazans have been suffocating due to the Israeli and Egyptian embargo, which started 17 years ago. To put it another way, access to even the most basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies has been severely restricted.[3]

These are not isolated events. They are subjected to a daily pattern of injury and denial of fundamental needs. Additionally, persistent stress weakens their belief in shelter and the future. This CCT presents itself in a variety of ways, including pain, starvation, the destruction of their home, the murder of family members, and the constant fear of being assaulted. This is a relentless attack on their psychological existence. As a result, they are at a higher risk of developing numerous mental health difficulties.[4]

Being victimized in that manner regularly is just psychologically devastating. It was discovered that C-PTSD symptoms in Palestinian children include emotional dysregulation, relational issues, a poor self-image, identity disturbances, and increased attentiveness. They struggle to feel safe, have emotionally stable lives, and establish trustworthy connections. Because of the persistent fear that hovers in the background, this view has shown itself as perpetual helplessness and hopelessness. Some people don’t believe that violence and suffering will ever end in this world because they feel that they are stuck in a cycle. This is a story that will educate future generations of Palestinian youngsters about a fourteen-year blockade.[5]

Long-Term effects:

This is not a matter of momentary distress. The psychological toll that conflict takes on these kids may shape their lives for years to come. The present Israeli attack has made mental health issues worse. The children in Palestine are particularly overwhelmed with grief and feel hopeless. Their early years are now nothing but rubble. They have witnessed family members being slain, their homes being set on fire, and their communities being reduced to rubble. A world full of grief and bewilderment awaits those who have been left as orphans. These kids feel abandoned and powerless. This is because the family’s support system, which provided solace and stability during earlier conflicts, has been destroyed.[6]

Inability to Form Relationships

This trauma’s psychological effects extend beyond ordinary PTSD or anxiety symptoms. It can cause a cascade of negative consequences that damage the child’s academic performance, social cognition, and relationship satisfaction. This makes it extremely difficult for them to focus on their academics or engage with other children and young people. Experiencing ongoing violence and pessimism can lead to the onset of a number of chronic illnesses. Their physical and mental health has been impacted by the high rates of starvation brought on by the blockade and limited access to necessities. The ongoing conflict is the reason why six out of every hundred children under the age of two are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to the World Food Programme.[7]

This suggests that these kids can be severely impacted and deal with their MHPSS[8] for the majority of their lives. In addition, the extended strain they experience—including their susceptibility to abuse, bereavement, and hardship—causes a harmful stress reaction. This may have an impact on how their bodies and brains grow overall. It can increase their vulnerability to illnesses linked to stress and impaired brain function. It is not limited to a small number of people who experience lifelong trauma. The wounds these children have sustained must be treated. They must receive the care they require to help them forget the brutality they have experienced.[9]

The Need for Support to Children in Palestine:

This Gaza war is more than just another war. It is a disaster that is ruining the lives of children in Palestine. The numbers are staggering. Over 14000 children have been killed, thousands more have been injured, and 1.7 million people, including 860000 children, have become refugees. People are left powerless, starving, thirsty, sick, and homeless, or without solid refuge. They have lost their homes and loved ones, and they are now wondering if they will have a future at all.[10]

The situation is particularly dire in Rafah, a community now overrun with children who have nothing left behind. They are forced to live in tents, shanty towns, or anywhere else, including surface cracks that may provide them with some shelter. The victims have been displaced numerous times, creating a terrifying cycle of dislocation and loss. And the world cannot simply sit back and watch while those children are denied their childhood, future prospects, and lives. The plight of these vulnerable youngsters cannot be overstated, thus the world community must act quickly and establish a realistic approach to aid them.[11]

A humanitarian catastrophe has resulted from the recent and ongoing events in Gaza, particularly for the defenseless children residing in Palestine. According to the report, UNICEF and other organizations need to take swift action and implement plans in order to ensure that children are protected and receive the critical support they need. It is imperative that the globe adopts these attitudes. Children in Palestine are particularly vulnerable since they are at the centre of their everyday conflicts. It is critical to put an end to this violence, safeguard them, and provide them with the tools they need to start again.[12]

Conclusion:

Children in Gaza who are suffering from war demonstrate unequivocally that war is more than just a political conflict; it also destroys innocent lives. People suffer serious emotional wounds from living in a condition of perpetual conflict, violence, and forced relocation; they are robbed of their feeling of hope and protection. In addition, while providing targeted psychosocial support and education is beneficial, it’s important to keep in mind that the healing process won’t begin until a political solution is found. Until the Israeli occupation ends and the Palestinian people are granted their right to self-determination, no kid can overcome such pain or start again after losing everything they have ever known.

International community members have let Palestinian children down in every way imaginable. While words alone cannot make up for years lost, it is the duty of the entire world community to guarantee that Palestinian children receive the support and opportunities they are due, including timely access to mental health services, resilience-building programs, psycho-social assistance, and educational support. However, unless the current conflict—which is the basis of the misery experienced by the impacted people—is ended, their endeavours will be severely hampered. More correctly said, children in Palestine need a durable peace just as much as it does politically.

Footnotes:

[1] Save the Children, “OVER 2% OF GAZA’S CHILD POPULATION KILLED OR INJURED IN SIX MONTHS OF WAR,” 4 April 2024, https://www.savethechildren.net/news/over-2-gaza-s-child-population-killed-or-injured-six-months-war.

[2] Save the Children, “COMPLETE PSYCHOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION”: CHILDREN IN GAZA HAVE SUFFERED “RELENTLESS MENTAL HARM” DURING FIVE MONTHS OF WAR – SAVE THE CHILDREN,” 12 March 2024 https://www.savethechildren.net/news/complete-psychological-destruction-children-gaza-have-suffered-relentless-mental-harm-during

[3] Ibid.

[4] Thematic report, “Impact of the conflict on children in the Gaza Strip”, 1 February 2024, https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20240201_ACAPS_thematic_report_Palestine_-_impact_of_conflict_on_children_in_the_Gaza_strip.pdf.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Farajallah Iman, “The Invisible Wounds of Palestinian Children,” Psychiatric Times, 28 March 2024, https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/the-invisible-wounds-of-palestinian-children.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Mental Health and Psychological Support.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Farajallah Iman, “The Invisible Wounds of Palestinian Children,” Psychiatric Times, 28 March 2024, https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/the-invisible-wounds-of-palestinian-children.

[11] Ibid.

[12] UNICEF, “Children in Gaza need life-saving support”, https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support.