Arabic version: حياة الأطفال تتعطل بسبب الغارات العسكرية الإسرائيلية في الضفة الغربية

In the Dheisheh refugee camp of Bethlehem, children grapple with the harsh realities of life under Israeli military occupation. Yanal, a 14-year-old, recounts his experiences with the military, emphasizing the lack of safe spaces when soldiers invade. “Life in the camp is complex,” he says, recalling a football match interrupted by armed soldiers.

According to Al Jazeera, in the first nine months of 2025 alone, Israeli forces carried out nearly 7,500 raids across the occupied West Bank, or about 27 a day. Children like Mustafa, 13, and Diyar, 12, describe their fear and trauma, noting that their lives often come to a halt during these invasions.

A recent UN report highlights that Israeli forces have killed at least 20,179 Palestinian children and wounded more than 44,000 since October 2023. The report paints a grim picture of childhood in the occupied territories, where children are subjected to violence, mass arrests, and a constant state of fear.

The psychological impact of these conditions is profound, with experts noting a phenomenon of continuous traumatic stress among children. Diyar expresses the frustration of being unable to live freely, stating, “Our life stops” when the military arrives. Young Khour, just five years old, shares a personal story of the night soldiers came for her mother, illustrating the generational trauma that pervades the lives of Palestinian families.

The UN report underscores the long-term effects of military occupation, which has created a cycle of trauma that spans generations. As children like Khour yearn for stability and the return of their parents from prison, the ongoing violence continues to shatter their childhoods.