The Impacts of the Practices of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on the Palestinian Children

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 57 - 88, 30.06.2025

Haneen Qaraawee , Ismael Abujarad

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1663962

Abstract

This research paper aimed at identifying the practices of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), which have an impact on the Palestinian children. Precisely, this paper attempted to answer the questions: “(1) what are the IOF practices that impacted the Palestinian children? and (2) how did such practices impact the children?” A mixed methodology was used, where secondary data issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health as well as the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics was analyzed. The qualitative data, however, was obtained by using content analysis tool to analyze reports published by national and international NGOs working in the Palestinian territories. The results showed that the IOF practiced killing, arrest, intimidation, injuries, and harassment. It was also found that the IOF practices resulted in many mental illnesses among a high proportion of children, represented by fear, panic, psychological disorders, anxiety, insecurity and other psychological illnesses. IOF practices led to depriving the children of the basic needs such as their right to education and health services, which is a violation of the international human rights law. In addition, the results showed that the IOF attempted to demoralize the children, deter them from demonstrating, and erode their loyalty for their homeland.

Keywords

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) , Impact , Palestinian Children , Research Paper

References

• Abdeen, Z., Qasrawi, R., Nabil, S., & Shaheen, M. (2008). Psychological reactions to Israeli occupation: Findings from the national study of school-based screening in Palestine. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(4), 290-297
• Abudayya, A., Abu Ghali, K., Hargreaves, S., Bjertness, E., & Bhopal, A. (2023a). An Urgent Call to Save and Protect Lives of Vulnerable Populations in the Gaza Strip. The Lancet Regional Health, 35, 1-2.
• Abudayya, A., Bruaset, G.T.F., Nyhus, H.B., Aburukba, R., & Tofthagen, R. (2023b). Consequences of War-Related Traumatic Stress among Palestinian Young People in Gaza Strip: A Scoping Review. Journal of Mental Health & Prevention, 32, 1-15.
• Abu Hein, M. (2004). Psychological, Social and Educational Effects of the Occupation Forces’ Repression of Palestinian Children, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine: Unpublished Master’s Thesis.
• Abu Sa`a, M. (2017). The Palestinian Movement Between 1987-2005 Against the Israeli Occupation, Al-Quds University, Palestine: Published Research, Graduate Studies.
• AbuShanab, R. (2009). The Zionist Policy in the Occupied Territories. Jordan, Amman: Al-Yazouri Scientific Publishing & Distribution House.
• Aldameer Association. (1998). An institution affiliated with the Palestinian NGOs Network, Gaza, Palestine: dealing with human rights affairs. https://aldameer.org
• Aldameer Association. (2024). An institution affiliated with the Palestinian NGOs Network, Gaza, Palestine: dealing with human rights affairs. https://aldameer.org
• Aljazeera. (2025b, October 19). Israel’s ‘war against Gaza’s children’ explained. Aljazeera News. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/19/israels-war-against-gazas children-explained.
• Aljazeera. (2025a, June 13). Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
• Almasalkhi, N., Glick, P., Atshan, S., Huang, W., Isaac, J., Khammash, U., & Egel, D. (2025). Assessing the mental health impacts of Israeli occupation infrastructure in the West Bank by combining geospatial data with a representative survey of Palestinian youth. Health & Place, 92, 1-11.
• Al-Sabbah S. & Za’ol, L. (2007). Behavioral Disorders among the Children of Palestinian Detainees in the Bethlehem Governorate from the Point of View of the Mothers. An-Najah University Journal for Research-B (Humanities), 22(3),917-949.
• Al-Shafi, B. (2005). The Palestinian Resistance in Palestine After the Setback, Amman, Jordan: Dar Wael for Publishing.
• Al-krenawi, Al, Graham, J.R., & Sehwail, M.A. (2007). Tomorrow’s players under occupation: an analysis of the association of political violence with psychological functioning and domestic violence, among Palestinian youth. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 427-433.
• Amiri, Al., & Zafarzai, I. (2020). Political violence and its effects on physical and mental health. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11 (1), 466-474.
• Amnesty International. (2005, May 23). Amnesty International-Jerusalem Branch-Palestine reports on the Israeli occupation’s suppression of the Palestinian population. Palestine.
• Amnesty International. (2010, May 27). Amnesty International Report 2010: The state of the world’s human rights. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol10/001/2010/en/
• Amnesty International. (2017, February 22). Amnesty International Report 2017/2018: The state of the world’s human rights. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol10/6700/2018/en/
• Amnesty International. (2018, February 22). Gaza: Fears of further bloodshed as Israel adopts ‘ zero tolerance’ policy. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2018/10/gaza-fears-of-further-bloodshed-as-israel-adopts-zero-tolerance-policy/
• Ayer, L., Venkatesh, B., Stewart, R., Mandel, D., Stein, B., & Schoenbaum, M. (2017). Psychological aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse,18, 322-338.
• Baker, A.M. & Kanan, H.M. (2003). Psychological Impact of Military Violence on Children as a Function of Distance from Traumatic Event: The Palestine case. Intervention, 1(3), 13-21.
• Barbui, C., Purgato, M., Abdulmalik, J., Acarturk, C., Eaton, J., Gastaldon, C., & Thornicroft, G. (2020). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for mental health outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: An umbrella review. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7 (2), 162-172.
• Barenhaum J., Ruchin V., & Schwab-Stone, M.(2004). The psychological aspects of Children exposed to war: practice and policy initiatives. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 45, 41-62.
• Bar-Tal, D. (1990). Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Cognitive Analysis, International Journal of International Relations, 14, 1, 7-29.
• Bornstein, A. (2010). Palestinian prison ontologies. Dialectical Anthropology, 34(4), 459-472. Chu, A.T., & Lieberman, A.F. (2010). Clinical implications for traumatic stress from birth to age five. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6(1), 469-494.
• Conrad P. (2007). The Medicalization of Society. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Cuddy, A. (2025, January 28). Half our house is gone: Palestinians face worst fears in north Gaza, BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0e4zv94jvqo
• Dyregrov, A., Gjestad, R., & Raundalen, M. (2002). Children exposed to warfare: A longitudinal study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15, 59-68.
• Defence for Children International Palestine. (2012, April). Bound, blindfolded, and convicted: Children held in military detention. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/dcipalestine/pages/1294/attachments/original/1433970803/DCIP_Bound_Blindfolded_and_Convicted_2012.pdf?1433970803
• El-Khodary, B., & Samara, M.(2020a). The relationship between multiple exposures to violence and war trauma, and mental health and behavioral problems among Palestinian children and adolescents. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(5), 719-731.
• El-Khodary, B., Samara, M., & Askew, C. (2020b). Traumatic Events and PTSD among Palestinian Children and Adolescents: The Effect of Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11(4), 1-11.
• Elliott, J. (2013, January 31). Students suffer as Israel denies Palestinians freedom of movement and education in the occupied territories. https:/mondoweiss.net/2013/01/palestinian-education-territories.
• Garrbarino, J., & Kostelny, K. (1996). The Effects of Political Violence on Palestinian Children’s Behavioral Problems: A Risk Accumulation Model. Child Development, 67(1), 33-45.
• Garland, E. L., Pettus-Davis. C, Howard, M.O. (2013). Self-medication among traumatized youth: structural equation modeling of pathways between trauma history, substance misuse, and psychological distress. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36, 175-185.
• Hadi F, Llabre M, & Spitzer S. (2006). Gulf War-related trauma and psychological distress of Kuwaiti children and their mothers. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 19(5), 653-662.
• Hammad, J. & Tribe, R. (2020). Social suffering and the psychological impact of structural violence and economic oppression in an ongoing conflict setting: The Gaza Strip. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(6), 1791-1810.
• Hasan, D., & Bleibleh, S. (2023). The everyday art of resistance: Interpreting “resistancescapes” against urban violence in Palestine. Political Geography, 101(4), 1- 11.
• Hein, F. A., Qouta, S., Thabet, A., & El Sarraj, E. (1993). Trauma and mental health of children in Gaza. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 306(6885), 1130.
• Human Rights Watch. (2022, June 14). Gaza: Israel’s ‘open-air prison’ at 15. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/14/gaza-israels-open-air-prison-
• Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). (2007). IASC guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in emergency settings. Geneva: Inter-Agency Standing Committee. https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-task-force-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings/iasc-guidelines-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings-2007
• International Committee of the Red Cross (2022). Israel and the Occupied Territories: Facts and Figures - January to December 2022. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/israel-and-occupied-territories-facts-and-figures-2022
• Institute for Policy Research. (2025). Protecting Palestinian Children from Political Violence. https://www.bath.ac.uk/publications/protecting-palestinian-children-from-political-violence/attachments/ipr-policy-brief-protecting-palestinian-children-from-political-violence.pdf
• Khamis, V. (2005). Posttraumatic stress disorder among school-age Palestinian children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 29(1), 81-95.
• Khamis, V. (2012). Posttraumatic stress and worry as mediators and moderators between political stressors and emotional and behavioral disorders in Palestinian children. International Journal of Psychology, 47(2), 133-141.
• Frontières, M. S. (2024). Strikes, Raids and Incursions: Seven Months of Relentless Attacks on Healthcare in Palestine. Ehttps://www.msf.org/strikes-raids-and-incursions-seven-months-relentless-attacks-healthcare-palestine.
• Miller, K. E., Rasmussen, A. (2010). Mental health and armed conflict: the importance of distinguishing between war exposure and other sources of adversity: a response to Neuner, Social Science & Medicine, 71,1385-1389.
• Ministry of Health. (2013)., Right to health, crossing barriers to access health in the occupied Palestinian territory, World Health Organization Annual Report. https://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/palestine/documents/who_-_rth_crossing_barriers_to_access_health.pdf
• Ministry of Health. (2015). Palestine Health Status Annual Report. https://ghdx.healthdata.org/record/palestine-health-status-annual-report-2015.
• Ministry of Health. (2018). Global Health Data Exchange, Palestine, Gaza Strip Mortality by Sex, Age, and Cause. https://ghdx.healthdata.org/record/palestine-gaza-strip-mortality-sex-age-and-cause-2018
• Ministry of Health. (2025). The Daily Report on the Effects of the Israeli Aggression on Palestine, Catastrophic situation in numbers, the deadliest year for Palestinians. https://site.moh.ps/Content/File/t8S7FCtVUpmfKadFvldmz1zQ_MYfJIzqozBzQFoLyzgAkw4vH.pdf
• Moustafa, T. (2003). Law versus the state: the judicialization of politics in Egypt. Law & Social Inquiry, 28(4), 883-930.
• Nashif, E. (2008). Palestinian political prisoners: Identity and community. New York: Routledge.
• Nemiro A., Hijazi Z., O’Connel, R., & Coetzee A. (2022). Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being in Education: The Case to Integrate Core Actions and Intervention into Learning Environments, 20(1),36-45.
• Nijim, M. (2023). Genocide in Palestine: Gaza as a case study. The International Journal of Human Rights, 27 (1), 165-200.
• OCHA. (2024, December 24). Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 24 December 2024 at 15:00. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/reported-impact-snapshot-gaza-strip-24-december-2024-1500
• OCHA. (2024, June 19). One year of unimaginable suffering since the 7 October attack. https://www.unocha.org/news/one-year-unimaginable-suffering-7-october-attack Oxfam International (2024). Oxfam at UNGA 2024. https://www.oxfam.org/en/oxfam-unga-2024
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2000). Palestine in Figures, the annual report on violations by the occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book792.pdf
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Palestine in Figures, the annual report on violations by the occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book1749.pdf
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2014). Palestine in Figures, the annual report on violations by the occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2115.pdf
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2015). Palestine in Figures, the annual report on violations by the occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/downloads/book2188.pdf
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Palestine in Figures, the annual report on violations by the occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2421.pdf
• Pat-Horenczyk, R., Qasrawi, R., Lesack, R., Haj-Yahia, M., Peled, O., Shaheen, M., Berger, R., Brom, D., Garber, R., and Abdeen, Z. (2009). Posttraumatic Symptoms, Functional Impairment, and Coping among Adolescents on Both Sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Cross-Cultural Approach. Applied Psychology, 58(4), 688-708.
• Pat-Horenczyk, R., Qasrawi, R., Lesack, R., Haj-Yahia, M., Peled, O., Shaheen, M., Qouta, S., Punamaki, R. L., & El Sarraj, E. (1998). Prevalence and determinants of PTSD among Palestinian children exposed to military violence. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 12 (6), 265-72.
• Palestinian Red Cresent Society. (2024). PRCS: The Killing of Eight of Our Medics is ‏A Tragedy Against Humanitarian Work. https://www.palestinercs.org/en/Article/12024/%E2%80%8FPRCS-The-Killing-of-Eight-of-Our-Medics-is-%E2%80%8FA-Tragedy-Against-Humanitarian-Work
• Qouta, S., Punamäki, R. L., & Sarraj, E. E. (1995). The relations between traumatic experiences, activity, and cognitive and emotional responses among Palestinian children. International Journal of Psychology, 30(3), 289-304.
• Rabaia, I. (2024). Policies without Sovereignty. Al-Muntaqa: New Perspectives on Arab Studies, 7(1), 115-126.
• Rotenberg, S., Chen, S., Hunt, X., Smythe, T., & Kuper, H. (2024). Are children with disabilities more likely to be malnourished than children without disabilities? Evidence from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 30 countries. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 7(1), 38-45.
• Reports Without Borders. (2023). 45 journalists killed in the line of duty worldwide – a drop despite the tragedy in Gaza. https://rsf.org/en/rsf-s-2023-round-45-journalists-killed-line-duty-worldwide-drop-despite-tragedy-gaza
• Sagi-Schwarts, A. (2008). The well-being of children living in chronic war zones: The Palestinian-Israeli case. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(4), 2008.
• Save the Children (2024, January 11). Gaza: 10,000 children killed in nearly 100 days of war. Save the Children. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-10000-children-killed-nearly-100-days-war
• Save the Children, Child Rights Resource Center: Annual Report .(2022). International Save the Children Alliance. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/annual-report-2002-international-save-children-alliance
• Save the Children Annual Report. (2004). Critical Choices for the World’s Children. https://image.savethechildren.org/save-the-children-annual-report-2004-ch11042165.pdf/g7gt2t34r5ju85hq4ah52sbt7f38gguh.pdf
• Shehadeh, A. (2021). The Psychological Well-being of Palestinian Children Living among Israeli Settlements in Hebron Old City. Academic Journal of Research and Scientific Publishing, 3(28), 30-45.
• Shehadeh, A; Loots, G; vanderfaeillie, J; Derluyn, I .(2016). The Association Between Parental Imprisonment and Mental Health of Palestinian Adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 21; (3): 154-160. Smith , K. E., & Pollak, S. D. (2020). Early life stress and development: Potential mechanisms for adverse outcomes. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 12(1), 1-15.
• Sourani, G. (1986). The Palestinian Resistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Beirut, Lebanon: The Center for Arab Unity Studies.
• Sourani, G. (2006). The Israeli Occupation and Its Practices, Beirut, Lebanon: The Center for Arab Unity Studies. Southern Transactional Council (2023, October 18). STC's Secretariat Condemns Crimes Against Civilians in Occupied Palestine. https://en.stcaden.com/posts/11403.
• Southern Transactional Council (2024, Mar 26). STC Presidium Welcomes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding Immediate Gaza Ceasefire. https://en.stcaden.com/posts/11669.
• Tawfiq, N. (2007). Occupation and Terrorism, Nazareth, Palestine: Jalil House for Printing and Publishing.
• Thabet, A. A. M., Abed, Y., & Vostanis, P. (2002). Emotional problems in Palestinian children living in a war zone: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet, 359(9320), 1801-1804.
• Thabet, A. A. M., Karim, K., & Vostanis, P. (2006). Trauma exposure in pre-school children in a war zone. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), 154-158.
• Thabet, A; Abu Tawahina, A; El Sarraj, E, & Vostanis, P. (2007). Exposure to war trauma and PTSD among parents and children in the Gaza strip, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 17, 191–199.
• Thabet, A.M. (2017). Palestinian Children: Victims of Decades of Violence and Trauma. JOJ Nurse Health Care, 2(3), 49-56.
• Thabet, A. (2019). Psychological Well-Being of Palestinian Children and Adolescents in Gaza Strip and West Bank: Review Paper. EC Psychology and Psychiatry, 8(3), 197-205.
• The Palestinian Prisoners Club. (2010). Statistics about the annual arrests carried out by the occupation forces: Reports and Studies, A Comprehensive and General Report in memory of the Palestinian Prisoner Day Jerusalem, Palestine. https://www.miftah.org/arabic/Display.cfm?DocId=11494&CategoryId=3
• UNICEF (2025). Palestinian Children Under Siege. https://www.unicef.org/sop/media/4576/file/Palestinian%20Children%20Under%20Siege%20October%202024.pdf.pdf in May10th, 2025.
• UNICEF (2023, October 31). Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/gaza-has-become-graveyard-thousands-children
• UN OHCHR. (2024, January 16). Over one hundred days into the war, Israel destroying Gaza’s food system and weaponizing food, say UN human rights experts. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/over-one-hundred-days-war-israel-destroying-gazas-food-system-and
• United Nations (2024, March 13). The Question of Palestine, War on Gaza: Impact on Palestinian Women and Children” - Palestinian Rights Committee’s Virtual Event on the Sidelines of CSW68-Chair Summary. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/war-on-gaza impact-on-Palestinian-women-and-children-Palestinian-rights- committee-virtual-event-chair-summary/.
• United Nations (2023, October 27). Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection. https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142932
• UNRWA (2025, May 10). The Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Situation Report #170. https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-170-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem
• Van Heemstra, H. E., Scholte, W. F., Ehring, T., & Boelen, P.A. (2020). Contextualizing cognitions. The relation between negative posttraumatic cognitions and posttraumatic stress among Palestinian refugees. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 13,159-172.
• Veronese, G., Pepe, A., Diab, M., Jamey, Y.A., & Kagee, A. (2021). Living under siege: Resilience, hopelessness, and psychological distress among Palestinian students in the Gaza Strip. Global Mental Health, 8, 3-40.
• Veronese, G., Bdier, D., Obaid, H., Mahamid, F., Crugnola, C.R., & Cavazzoni, F. (2023). Hope and life satisfaction in Palestinian children victim of military violence: The predictive role of agency, potentially traumatic experiences, and symptoms of trauma. Child Abuse Neglect, 146, 1-10.
• Veronese, G., Bdier, D., Obaid, H., Mahamid, F., Yaghi, S., & Cavazzoni, F. (2025). Agency, life satisfaction, hope, potentially traumatic events, trauma symptoms, and psychological signs. A two waves study with a sample of Palestinian children living in different geographical areas. Children and Youth Services Review, 168, 1-10.
• War Child . (2021, May 10). Rapid Needs Assessment West Bank. Impact of the Conflict on Children in the Gaza Strip, Thematic Report. https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20240201_ACAPS_thematic_report_Palestine_-_impact_of_conflict_on_children_in_the_Gaza_strip.pdf
• War Child. (2025). Understanding the Effects of the Israeli Occupation on the Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being and Needs of Children and Caregivers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), specifically the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. https://www.warchild.net/documents/345/Effects_of_Israeli_Occupation_on_Mental_Health_Wellbeing_in_East_Jerusalem__West_Bank.pdf
• WHO (2022). Mental health in emergencies. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-in-emergencies
• Yoke R., Mahasin F. Saleh, & Giacaman R. (2014). Sick or Sad? Supporting Palestinian Children Living in Conditions of Chronic Political Violence. Children & Society, 28, 3, 172-181.
• Zainab, A. (2021). When there is no “post-” to the trauma: Exploring continuous traumatic stress in refugee populations. Gainesville: Refuge Medical Relief. https://www.grmruf.org/blog/2021/9/20/when-there-is-no-post-to-the-trauma-exploring-continuous-traumatic-stress-in-refugee-populations