A Childhood at Risk: The Child's Rights from Gaza's Children's Perspectives During the Israeli Attack

Abstract

Objective: The ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza exposed the Palestinian children to tremendous experiences of fear, pain, hunger, thirst, and deprivation of family and housing. the current paper embarks on exploring the different dimensions of the child's rights as perceived by the Palestinian children who live in Gaza during the Israeli attack on their land after the seventh of October, 2023. Methodology: The paper tries to shift the spotlight onto the voices and experiences of children, reclaiming their rights within the narrative of war. Thus, video content analysis was used to examine 30 selected videos featuring 63 children, primarily from social media. Results: The findings reveal that most children's rights were violated during the Israeli attack on Gaza. Children were aware of their rights, recognized violations, and appealed to the world for support. Children expressed their rights to play, be safe, live with their families, eat, drink, and return home after displacement. Recommendation: The researchers recommend an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of children's rights, emphasizing the need to safeguard them as the highest priority during any crisis.