The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, involving Palestinian children, has been a significant issue since the 1929 Hebron massacre and the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre. The First Intifada and Second Intifada, characterized by harsh Israeli responses, have significantly impacted children’s participation and exposure to violence.

The ongoing conflict between Palestinian and Israeli children has resulted in a significant number of children being regular victims and sometimes even perpetrators of violence. These attacks, often targeting schools and youth spaces, have severe psychological impacts on children, including trauma and PTSD. International organizations, such as the UN and Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern about the treatment of children in the conflict and called for both sides to adhere to international conventions on children’s rights. As of 2021, 2,171 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli military actions, while 139 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinian militants. Despite efforts to address the conflict’s impact, the ongoing conflict continues to significantly affect children’s lives in both societies.
Child-targeted terrorist acts
Palestinian violence targeting Israeli children began in the 1970s, with the Avivim school bus massacre 1970 resulting in 12 Israeli civilians killed, nine of whom were children, and 25 wounded. The attack was one of the first carried out by the PFLP-GC. The Ma’alot massacre in 1974 involved a two-day hostage-taking of 115 people, including 105 children, in Ma’alot. The hostage-takers demanded the release of 23 Palestinian militants from Israeli prisons, or else they would kill the students.
On the second day of the standoff, a unit of the Golani Brigade stormed the building, killing the children with grenades and automatic weapons. Ultimately, 25 hostages, including 22 children, were killed and 68 more were injured. These acts highlight the ongoing conflict between Palestinian and Israeli interests, particularly in the killing of Israeli children.

The Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing, a 2001 Palestinian terrorist attack, killed 21 Israeli teenagers and injured 132. The Mercaz HaRav massacre, a 2008 Palestinian attack, killed eight students and the perpetrator, while 11 more were wounded. Other attacks targeting children include the Itamar attack, where six children and their parents were murdered in their beds, and the 2011 Shaar HaNegev school bus attack, where Hamas militants fired a Kornet laser-guided anti-tank missile over the border at an Israeli school bus, killing one child.
In 2023, Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel involved fighters distributing pamphlets ordering them to target elementary schools and a youth center, kidnapping at least 30 children. False allegations and social media attempts to deny Hamas’s actions have been made. Hamas also mutilated the bodies of Israeli children and burned them during their attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023.
Children involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: legal challenges
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has historically affected children, with events like the 1929 Hebron massacre and the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre claiming the lives of Palestinian children. Youth participation in hostilities increased during the First Intifada (1987-1993), with Palestinian children participating in protests against Israeli occupation. The Second Intifada (2000-2005) was more violent, with a significant impact on children through protests and exposure to violence. Israeli and Palestinian children have suffered from attacks, including bombings and shootings, often targeting schools and youth spaces.

Reports indicate severe psychological impacts on children, including trauma and PTSD. International organizations, including the UN and Human Rights Watch, have expressed grave concern about the treatment of children in the conflict and called for both sides to adhere to international conventions on children’s rights. As of 2021, 2,171 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli military actions and 139 Israeli children by Palestinian militants.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: History of children involved
Israeli youth have been involved in military action since before the creation of Israel, with incidents such as the 1929 Hebron massacre and the 1948 massacre of Palestinian residents. According to Anton Shammas, the idea of ‘childhood’ was abolished and dropped from Israeli military declarations after the Six-Day War, leading to the First Intifada (1987-1993). Stone-throwing was defined as a felony, and children were arrested with bail set at US$400. The continued Israeli occupation and stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process have led to Palestinian protests and political violence, including mass protests during the First Intifada. Many youth participated in nonviolent demonstrations, sit-ins, walk-outs, boycotts, civil disobedience, and strikes organized by popular committees. Other violent acts included rioting, grenade throwing, and suicide bombings.

The First Intifada, led by Palestinian youth, was a significant event in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, inspiring activism and challenging the occupation. The Second Intifada, led by adults in the Palestine Liberation Organization, occurred after the collapse of the 1993 Oslo Accords. The Gaza Strip, with a population of 1.7 million, has a significant number of children, with over 800,000 of whom are children. Palestinians have been known to target children on school buses and playgrounds, with Arab snipers and rockets from Gaza landing in areas frequented by children.
Terrorist attacks are primarily targeting children
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has led to significant violence against Palestinian children, with the first acts of Palestinian violence targeting large numbers of Israeli children being committed in the 1970s. The Avivim school bus massacre, a terrorist attack on an Israeli school bus, killed 12 Israeli civilians, nine of whom were children, and 25 were wounded. The Ma’alot massacre in 1974 involved a two-day hostage-taking of 115 people, including 105 children, by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). The hostage-takers demanded the release of 23 Palestinian militants from Israeli prisons, leading to the takeover of the school by the Golani Brigade, resulting in the deaths of 25 hostages, including 22 children, and 68 more injuries.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a contentious issue, with Palestinian groups Hamas and Israeli militants engaging in numerous attacks. The Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing in 2001 killed 21 Israeli teenagers, while the Mercaz HaRav massacre in 2008 killed eight students and the perpetrator. Other attacks targeting children include the Itamar attack and the 2011 Shaar HaNegev school bus attack. In 2023, Hamas kidnapped at least 30 children and mutilated their bodies, leading to false allegations and a subsequent attack on Israel. The Palestinian group Hamas continues to threaten the security of Israel and the Palestinian community.
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