Gaza children struggle to cope with life under fire

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

GAZA (Reuters) - Barefoot boys chase each other in circles around the street, pointing pretend guns made out of rubber pipes up at the Gaza sky, which is thick with Israeli F-16s and surveillance drones.

"We're not afraid of the Jews' bombs!" said Sharif al-Ewad, whose plump cheeks make him look younger than his 15 years. "Al-Qassam (Hamas's armed wing) has raised its head high, and is really beating them up this time!" he smiled.

But beneath the swagger and bravado there is also a yearning for peace and quiet after five days of Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 65 Palestinians, including 20 children.

With one of the youngest populations in the world, over half of Gaza's 1.7 million residents are aged under 18 and they have little to comfort them beside the heady local culture of armed struggle against Israel.

The Jewish state pulled its troops and settlers out of the coastal territory in 2005 but ever since has come under regular rocket fire from Islamist group Hamas and its allies in the Gaza Strip, which refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist.

Israel launched its latest widescale operation last Wednesday with the stated aim of putting a halt to the attacks.

Psychiatrist Hasan Zeyada says the constant exposure to shocking violence has left many children suffering trauma and all that it entails -- bed-wetting, nightmares, flashbacks, and fear of going out in public.

"Part of this is related to our culture and religion, which values sacrifice and duty. The other part is a kind of denial. it's normal to be scared, but in the messages they've watched and heard, they're taught just to show strength," said Zeyada, manager of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program.

"When there's no safe place to go, they respond naturally with denial. In a situation like Gaza's, the best families and the community can do for children is to keep them close and go about life as normally as possible," he said.

That isn't very easy.

SMALL VICTIMS

With schools shut while the fighting rages, some children express delight at their newfound freedom. "Of course we're happy!" squealed one boy, drawing out giggles from his mates.

Looking more serious, Sharif shook his head. "No, it's no good. We want to learn. It's boring, and our parents try to make us stay inside. But we're not scared," he insisted.

On the other side of the fence, Israeli schools are also shuttered within a 40-km radius of Gaza because of an incessant rain of incoming rockets, with children confined to their homes.

Tragically, some young Gazans will never get to see school.

Tamer, 1, and Joumana Abu Sefan, 3, were blasted from their beds by an Israeli strike early on Sunday. Their father Salama, blood gushing down his face from his owns wounds, rushed them to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Male relatives stared on in tears, women cried out and swooned while the little bodies were swaddled in white cloth and gauze was placed in their nostrils to keep still-flowing blood from staining their faces.

At their joint funeral march just hours later, Salama cradled their heads as uncles held them aloft at his side.

Green Hamas flags were suddenly draped over their shrouds, and the militant group's religious songs, playing in the background, announced that the tiny pair had achieved martyrdom and that heaven would be their reward.

"What does Israel want with their blood?" Salama heaved, inconsolable and seeming to sleepwalk through the spectacle.

For its part, Israel denies targeting civilians and says it is constantly warning residents, who it says are used by as human shields, away from areas where militants operate.

Abdullah Zumlot, 15, the first hints of moustache speckling his upper lip, scoffed at this as he loitered around the hospital where the Abu Sefan children were earlier carried away.

"It's not fair what we have to live through, we're not happy. All my family and I do is sit at home and watch the news 24 hours," he complained.

(Editing by Crispian Balmer)

http://news.yahoo.com/gaza-children-struggle-cope-life-under-fire-180540903.html

Edited November 19, 2012 by The Patriot

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

It sucks for those children that their parents voluntarily elected a terrorist organization aka Hamas to govern Gaza. I don't think their parents care much for the welfare of their children.

[zahrasalem 114]

It sucks for those children that their parents voluntarily elected a terrorist organization aka Hamas to govern Gaza. I don't think their parents care much for the welfare of their children.

Why do you only blame one side for all the problems? Is your beloved Israel innocent of all wrong doing?? And why do you beleive the burden is all on the Palestenians backs to make change?? You come off as a flaming Islamophobe, but I'm sure you don't care.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Why do you only blame one side for all the problems? Is your beloved Israel innocent of all wrong doing?? And why do you beleive the burden is all on the Palestenians backs to make change?? You come off as a flaming Islamophobe, but I'm sure you don't care.

1) Was Hamas democratically elected by the residents of Gaza?

2) Does Hamas fire rockets into Israel knowing full well that there will be repercussions from Israel?

Edited November 20, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[Póg mo 1,749]

1) Was Hamas democratically elected by the residents of Gaza?

2) Does Hamas fire rockets into Israel knowing full well that there will be repercussions from Israel?

Very similar questions could also be asked of Israel and used to justify all sorts of things against Israel.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Very similar questions could also be asked of Israel and used to justify all sorts of things against Israel.

We won't have to worry about any of these questions when Israel solves the problem in Gaza.

[Póg mo 1,749]

Why do you only blame one side for all the problems?

He likes to keep things simple.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

He likes to keep things simple.

Why would I or anyone else for that matter support a well known terrorist organization? That would be akin to supporting the IRA.

[Póg mo 1,749]

We won't have to worry about any of these questions when Israel solves the problem in Gaza.

It is planning on treating Palestinians like human beings?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Why would I or anyone else for that matter support a well known terrorist organization? That would be akin to supporting the IRA.

You are not Irish and Catholic, are you?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Why do you only blame one side for all the problems? Is your beloved Israel innocent of all wrong doing?? And why do you beleive the burden is all on the Palestenians backs to make change?? You come off as a flaming Islamophobe, but I'm sure you don't care.

I am a fairly open minded person and do try to be fair about everything. However when I find out that one side puts their missiles around orphanages, schools, and hospitals, so that the return fire will kill a lot of innocents for PR reasons.. Well that is all I need to know about evil.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Why do you only blame one side for all the problems? Is your beloved Israel innocent of all wrong doing?? And why do you beleive the burden is all on the Palestenians backs to make change?? You come off as a flaming Islamophobe, but I'm sure you don't care.

The original article seemed to cover the subject from flaming jewishphobe and flaming Israeliphobe quite well.. Why object to a counter viewpoint?

Man I am loving these labels! I try to stay away from them as generally as they are only useful when you just want to feel superior in an argument without having to think.. But it is so easy! I can understand the temptation

Edited November 20, 2012 by OnMyWayID

[zahrasalem 114]

We won't have to worry about any of these questions when Israel solves the problem in Gaza.

say what you really mean (we already know anyway)....to you, solves the problem in Gaza = kill all the Arabs & Muslims, including all children, women and elderly

[OriZ 3,157]

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

RT = Russia Today. Nobody in their right mind takes anything RT says or prints seriously, not even RT.