Introduction
The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long, ongoing conflict that began many years ago. This article will try to teach children about the war in clear and concise language. The people of Palestine are referred to as Palestinians, while the people of Israel are referred to as Israelis, both groups have a deep connection with the land. Conflict has arisen between the people and has often turned into violent wars.
Geography & Key Places
Israel and the State of Palestine is in the Middle East and is the neighbour country of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Palestine consists of 2 regions:
- Gaza Strip: It is a piece of land between Israel and Mediterranean Sea, over two million Palestinians live in this small strip of land.
- West Bank: The west bank is an area along the West of Jordan river, it has religious significance for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The important places and cities in the two lands are:
- Jerusalem
- Gaza City
- Tel Aviv
Historical Background
- 1917-1947, British Mandate:
Palestinian Arabs consisted of 90% of the population living in Palestine and the 10% were other religious minorities including the Jews. On November 2, 1917 the British government created the “Balfour Declaration” which promised to create a national home for Jewish people. From 1923-1948 the British government established control over the Palestinian land and oversaw the migration of Jews, this was a time of rising tension as the native Palestinian Arabs feared for their land and rights.
- 1947-1949, Creation of Israel and United Nation Partition:
In 1947 the United Nation voted to divide Palestinian land into two parts, one for the Palestinian Arabs and the other for Israelis Jews. The distribution was unfair as Palestinians were forced to relocate from their fertile land and then a Catastrophe occurred. From 1947-1949 a “Nakba” took place, which was a war followed by the partition. The Israeli parliamentary groups destroyed hundreds of Palestinian towns and 750,000 Palestinians were displaced due to this. Israel announced its independence on May 14, 1948.
Occupation & Wars From 1950s–1990s
Many wars and struggles happened from 1950-1990s, but ultimately a peace agreement was reached in 1993. Wars still did happen before the peace agreement like the Six-Day War that took place in 1967, where Israel occupied Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem and other areas that did not come under their land. Palestinians were forced out of their homes and villages and this event is called a “setback”.
The Palestinians faced many atrocities by the Israeli government, hence, they started to stand against and protest for their rights. The boycott and protest is known as the First Intifada that happened from 1987-1993. In 1993 a peace agreement was reached between the Israelis and the Palestinians known as the “Oslo Accords”. The peace agreement made Israel withdraw from few parts of Gaza Strip and the West Bank, this also led to Palestinian authority becoming established (although it had limited self-rule due to the opposition of Israeli government).
21st Century & Recent Conflicts
The war in the land did settle for a while till the Second Intifada from 2000-2005. Violence and bloodshed began again due to political unrest between the two groups, which caused Israel to remove settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Despite clear distribution of the land for 2 separate groups, the war continued in Gaza for years from major attacks happening in:
- 2008-2009
- 2012
- 2014
- 2021
Until the year 2006 there was only one governing authority in Palestine till Hamas a Palestinian group emerged and won election. Hamas winning the elections led to the government being split, Hamas in Gaza Strip and Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a surprise attack against Israel. This attack killed and injured many people and in response the Israeli government airstrikes hit the entirety of Gaza.
The air strike led to the deaths of thousands and the war is still occurring in 2025 between Israel and Palestine. According to UNICEF the recent war led to humanitarian crises, displacement, deaths and injury of more than 50,000 children and UN laws being broken by Israel. During the conflict the war was stopped for a while as in January, 2025 a ceasefire took place, but it was broken by the Israeli government in a couple of days as they started the bombardment of innocent Palestinian civilians again.
Everyday Life in Gaza and the West Bank
Everyday life in Gaza is very difficult for people, children are starving due to limited access to aid. Israel has established blockades which do not allow aid to reach people and it causes families to struggle to feed themselves and the children and the elderly suffer the most. Clean water, electricity and medical care is mostly not available due to restrictions and control of the checkpoints, Israel has limited access to even basic everyday necessities.
Impact on Children
Children on both sides of the war are impacted the most during the conflicts. They face:
- Starvation and Health Issues: In Palestine the ongoing famine is faced by half a million. The occurring war is causing children to suffer malnutrition and starvation due to lack of food and nutrients, they do not receive proper food and medical supplies, sadly leading to death and starvation.
- Loss of Education: Children are forced to stop attending schools due to unsafe environments like bombings and attacks. Organisations like UNICEF try to provide safe space for learning but it’s not enough to cater to all the children.
- Physical and Psychological Harm: Children face scary situations that cause fear and sadness, they are hurt physically and mentally as well. Children suffer through starvation and trauma due to war, which changes them forever if not rehabilitated on time.
International Response & Peace Efforts
The entire world is trying to bring peace through global aid directed towards the people of Palestine. UNICEF has been actively delivering food and medical supplies during the war. The United Nations is also trying to resolve the conflict through ceasefires and peace talks although they have not been successful yet. These efforts have not been successful due to political differences and lack of trust between the groups.
Ways Kids Can Help
Children can help by staying informed and asking important questions to trusted adults. They need to learn how to be empathetic and kind towards everyone and promote fundraising towards charities directed to Palestinians and Israelis.
Conclusion
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is complex and has a deep history. Peace is achievable if the world leaders come together to protect children and the innocent on both sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is starvation and is it happening in Palestine?
Starvation is defined as malnutrition or death, caused due to the lack of food. Starvation is occurring in massive numbers all around Palestine at the moment.
Why are there walls and checkpoints all over Palestine?
The military occupation by Israel has put walls all over Palestine to separate themselves from the Palestinians. The checkpoints are made to check documentation and control who enters and exits the land.
How can I help?
You can help by reading and learning more about the ongoing situation and you can ask your guardians to donate to organisations like:
External Links
Wikipedia – Balfour Declaration
Aljazeera – What’s the Israel-Palestine conflict about?
World Health Organisation – Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza
