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A study conducted
by Abu Hayn concerning the recent rush of young Palestinians to
martyrdom revealed that
100% of Palestinian children have seen Israeli violence.
90% of the Palestinian
children said they wished participate in the Intifada, 63% said they
wished become martyrs
and 1/3 of the children said they were affected by Israeli violence.
According to the
researcher there are three important factors that drive children to
martyrdom:
upbringing, media, and
disappointment in the ability of adults to protect them.
“The
tendency of Palestinian children to violence is normal. Children see
violence in every
aspect of
their daily lives-on the streets, where shelling and assassinations
have become
the norm;
on television, were those same events are detailed and scrutinized;
at school,
where the
effects of bombardment are visible on teachers and students; and at
home, were
fathers are
no longer able to fend for their families.” Said Iyad Al-Barghouti,
professor of
Sociology
at Al-Najah University.
As stated
by several institutions Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of
more than 230
Palestinians under the age of 18. Children are the normal victims of
Israeli occupation
forces in
the Intifada. The schools were repeatedly targeted in clashes at the
beginning of
the
Intifada.
Statistics
at several human rights organizations reveal that most of the
children killed in the
Intifada
were slain while on playgrounds or in front yards, removed from the
battlefield.
International media recently broadcast numerous reports about
children killed during air
raids
targeting residential areas.
Many
parents claimed that daily witnessing of the crimes of occupation
forces is the factor
that drives
their children to wish revenge. They see horrific scene of violence
and killing
that can
affect them forever.
Between the
problems they can have are the following:
-Problems
related to identity, self-image and self-esteem, conflict, violence,
and
socialization processes.
- Treatment
of disorders in infancy, childhood and adolescence
(such as developmental
expressive disorders,
enuresis, destructive behavior, hyperactivity and attention deficit
disorder), trauma and
post traumatic stress disorder, self destructive and suicidal
behavior,
substance abuse,
underachievement, hypertension, panic and anxiety disorders,
phobias,
depression,
response to stress, interpersonal and communication difficulties.
-Treatment for families
in such crises as child abuse, divorce, alcohol or substance abuse,
bereavement, and even
for families with exceptionally gifted children.
-Women issues:
reproductive health and mental health, preparation to pregnancy and
parenting, gender
inequity, empowerment and enhancement of the social role of women,
abuse and violence
against women.
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