Palestine Kids
What's it like growing up in a war zone? Dodging bullets, hiding from Israeli soldiers and losing their land to settlers is part of every day life for these children. A fresh perspective on everyday life for Palestinians.
What's it like growing up in a war zone? Five year old Diana lives in a cave in the West Bank. Mufida, 16, is struggling to complete her education with Israeli soldiers living on her roof. And Yassin, 7, just wants to move to Brazil. Dodging bullets, hiding from Israeli soldiers and losing their land to settlers is part of every day life for these children. Through their eyes, we gain a fresh perspective on everyday life for Palestinians.
Mohammad, 10, and his younger brother, Yassin, are arguing about what to be when they grow up. "I'm going to be a pilot", declares Yassin. But when he hears that his big brother wants to be a fighter and "invent armaments", he changes his mind. "I'm going to bomb the Jews and be a fighter too".
Every Friday, the boys attend a demonstration against Israel's security fence. "It's very dangerous for the children but they want to go", reasons Mohammed's father. Already, the boys are obsessed with; "defending the Palestinian people".
Five year old Bessel loves "playing lego on my mother's bed". He lives in a comfortable suburb in Jerusalem and wants to be a doctor. By Palestinian standards, Bessel's family are extremely well off. But he's already showing signs of psychological trauma. "The situation for our children is very difficult due to the checkpoints", explains a child psychologist. Bessel dreams of; "somersaulting over the wall and jumping away from the enemy".
For the past seven years, Israeli soldiers have been living on Mufida's roof. "They chose our house because it's a high building so they can see all of Hebron from it", she explains. "The soldiers have turned our farm into a rubbish dump." Her family have given up buying new glass for their windows. Every time they replace their windows, settlers immediately smash them.
To get to school, Mufida has to walk past settlers' homes every day. "They throw stones and eggs at us", she complains. "I'm afraid of them". Her friend broke her leg trying to dodge a hail of stones so now they have to be accompanied to school by Christian Peace-keepers. "I want to live in peace but then I see what they do and I hate the Israelis".
Settler violence has also forced five year old Diana's family from their home. "They told me they would kill me", states Diana's father. Their village of Qawawis is surrounded on all sides by Israeli villages. Palestinian families are forbidden from building new houses or drinking water from their own well. "I love Qawawis and still want to play here", states Diana. But later, she admits she's terrified of Israeli soldiers. "The army comes and scares us".
Despite coming from different backgrounds and living in different villages, one thing unites these children: a sense of persecution.
FULL SYNOPSIS