A Violent Childhood

Living with a near-constant feeling of fear and grief is all too common for children in the West Bank. 2023 has been the deadliest year on record for children, and the situation has sky-rocketed after the 7th of October, with 278 children killed since then (Defense Children Palestine). Simply walking to school or playing outside is a source of anxiety, as the threat of shootings and settler violence looms large. In places like the refugee camps of Jenin, Nur Shams, or Balata, death is a familiar presence, with daily raids by the Israeli army exposing children to trauma from a young age.

In this context, children are often perceived as potential threats by the Israeli army, which arrests between 500 and 700 children every year. Israel stands as the only country in the world where military courts have jurisdiction over minors, a practice that targets Palestinian children as young as 12 years old. In prison, they face torture and violence, leading to deep trauma after their release.

The repercussions of this phenomenon extend beyond individual children, impacting the fabric of Palestinian society itself. As the Palestinian psychiatrist Samah Jabr notes, "When a child is arrested, the entire society is affected. When the father, the teacher fail to protect the child, it creates a sense of powerlessness that erodes familial bonds. "

This series recounts the stories of these children, caught in the cycle of violence stemming from the occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.