Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Since the start of the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict , violence has been employed by both sides as a tool of political and physical conquest , resistance and retaliation .

Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict refers to the impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors in Israel and the Palestinian territories . Laurel Holliday, in her 1999 book Children of Israel/Palestine , writes that two "ethnically distinct peoples – both Palestinians and Israeli Jews – lay claim to the very same sand, stone, rivers, vegetation, seacoast, and mountains" and that the stories she presents show that "Israeli and Palestinian children grow up feeling that they are destined for conflict with their neighbors". Both the Israeli Defense Forces and militant Palestinian groups have been accused of violating the rights of children and causing injury and death. The media has been used manipulatively to create support for different sides. Children have been the victims of indoctrination, school closures, medical problems and post-traumatic stress as a result of the conflict. At the same time, various educational projects have been established to counter indoctrination and negative stereotypes. Joseph Massad has argued that the Western media are far more sensitive to the deaths of Jewish children than to child fatalities among Palestinians, while Giulio Meotti has argued the opposite position - that antisemitism has become socially acceptable in Western media and that the world tolerates murder of Jewish children. In late April 2015 Human Rights Watch asked the UN to put both Israel and Hamas on its "List of Shame" regarding grave violations of children's rights in a conflict. The silence of the West,' Ynet February 22, 2012 'UN: Ensure Integrity of Children’s ‘List of Shame’ ,' Human Rights Watch 4 June 2015.

Impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors in Israel and the Palestinian territories Israeli girl (left) and a Palestinian boy (right) by houses damaged during the Gaza War (right) Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict refers to the impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors in Israel and the Palestinian territories . Laurel Holliday, in her 1999 book Children of Israel/Palestine , writes that two "ethnically distinct peoples – both Palestinians and Israeli Jews – lay claim to the very same sand, stone, rivers, vegetation, seacoast, and mountains" and that the stories she presents show that "Israeli and Palestinian children grow up feeling that they are destined for conflict with their neighbors". Both the Israeli Defense Forces and militant Palestinian groups have been accused of violating the rights of children and causing injury and death. The media has been used manipulatively to create support for different sides. Children have been the victims of indoctrination, school closures, medical problems and post-traumatic stress as a result of the conflict. At the same time, various educational projects have been established to counter indoctrination and negative stereotypes. Joseph Massad has argued that the Western media are far more sensitive to the deaths of Jewish children than to child fatalities among Palestinians, while Sarah Honig argues the opposite position, that the international media tolerates murder of Jewish children and infants, particularly settler children. In late April 2015 Human Rights Watch asked the UN to put both Israel and Hamas on its "List of Shame" regarding grave violations of children's rights in a conflict.

Impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors Israeli girl (left) and a Palestinian boy (right) by houses damaged during the Gaza War Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict refers to the impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors in Israel and the Palestinian territories . Laurel Holliday, in her 1999 book Children of Israel/Palestine , writes that two "ethnically distinct peoples – both Palestinians and Israeli Jews – lay claim to the very same sand, stone, rivers, vegetation, seacoast, and mountains" and that the stories she presents show that "Israeli and Palestinian children grow up feeling that they are destined for conflict with their neighbors". Both the Israeli Defense Forces and militant Palestinian groups have been accused of violating the rights of children and causing injury and death. According to B'tselem 's calculations (2021), some 2,171 Palestinian children have been killed in the last two decades by Israeli military actions, and 139 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinian militants. Joseph Massad has argued that the Western media are far more sensitive to the deaths of Jewish children than to child fatalities among Palestinians. Sarah Honig argues the opposite position, that the international media tolerates murder of Jewish children, particularly settler children. In late April 2015 Human Rights Watch asked the UN to put both Israel and Hamas on its "List of Shame" regarding grave violations of children's rights in a conflict.

Impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on minors An Israeli girl (left) and a Palestinian boy (right) by houses damaged during the 2008 Gaza War Children and children's rights have long been a focal point of the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict , dating as early as the 1929 Hebron massacre and the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre , both of which claimed the lives of children, precipitating a long conflict that has often led to the displacement, injury, and death of youths. Youth exposure to hostilities increased notably during the First and Second Intifada , where harsh responses from Israeli forces towards Palestinian adolescents and children protesting the Israeli occupation led to the arrest and detention of many Palestinian youth, in addition to other human rights abuses. Children have been regular victims and, at times, used as perpetrators of violence in the conflict, including being used as suicide bombers . Israeli and Palestinian children have suffered from attacks, including bombings and shootings, often targeting or involving schools and other youth spaces. Reports indicate that such violence has had severe psychological impacts on children, including trauma and PTSD . International organizations, including the UN and Human Rights Watch , have expressed grave concern about the treatment of children in the conflict and have called for both sides to adhere to international conventions on the rights of children. In fact, during the Gaza war , the United Nations added the Israeli Defense Forces to a list of offenders who fail to protect children. According to B'tselem 's calculations, as of 2021, some 2,171 Palestinian children had been killed in the last two decades by Israeli forces, and 139 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinian forces. Save the Children has estimated that up to 21,000 children have gone missing from the Gaza Strip between October 2023 to June 2024. Efforts have been made to address the conflict's impact on children, with various peace projects involving youth from both sides. These initiatives aim to foster understanding, reconciliation, and dialogue, emphasizing education and shared experiences. Despite these efforts, the ongoing conflict continues to significantly affect the lives of children in both Israeli and Palestinian societies. Gaza's Missing Children: Over 20,000 children estimated to be lost, disappeared, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves,' Save the Children 24 June 2024.