The Israeli occupation of
the Gaza Strip did far from end with the signing of the Oslo Accords
and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994.
The Israeli army is still very present in the Gaza Strip - especially
in areas surrounding the settlements - and violence, humiliations,
closures, bombardment, shelling, demolition of houses and leveling of
agricultural land has an enormous impact on Palestinian children's
daily life. Of the total number of Palestinians killed during the
al-Aqsa intifada
approximately 20%
were children under age 18. Of this number 20% were killed in
circumstances of complete quiet and 40% were killed in protests or
clashes. The following pictures
show Gazan Children's daily life since the outbreak of the intifada in
2000.
Palestinian boys at Tuffah checkpoint
dividing Khan Younis from the Israeli settlement bloc Gush Katif and
the Palestinian agricultural area Mawasi, which is under Israeli
military control and now declared for "closed military zone". More
than 50% of the children living in area next to the checkpoint show
symptoms of acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Children help find their family's
belongings and assets in the rubble after Israeli bulldozers have
destroyed their homes.
To see your house demolished is according
to psychiatrists one of the most traumatic incidents that can possible
happen to a child. It often has serious mental consequences for
children
Child from Rafah refugee camp shows the
sign of victory
This child had just experienced shelling
of his house in Rafah refugee camp in January 2002. Several rooms were
severely damaged.
In January 2002 the Israeli army
demolished more than 50 house - Bloc O - in Rafah refugee camp. This
girl lost her home and were temporarily moved to a tent provided by
UNRWA.
Girls find their papers and schoolbooks in
the rubble after their house was demolished.
A school is severely damaged after
Israeli bombardment.
