WHEN INNOCENCE SPEAKS THE TRUTH: A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN'S REACTIONS TO GAZA-ISRAEL WAR

Abstract

This study aims to examine Palestinian children's experiences with daily traumatic events. It focuses on understanding the psychological effects of their experiences. A qualitative approach is used to gain a thorough understanding of this important topic. The adopted model is the eclectic model of Fairclough-Braun and Clarke. The narratives encapsulate the psychological toll of war, where children struggle to process their experiences and also draw on the past historical atrocities the Israelis committed in Palestine. The analysis of Palestinian children's narratives reveals profound moral insights and evokes the universal experience of childhood. Their testimonies stand as powerful evidence of their suffering under Israeli aggression, with the most prominent theme being the disruption of their childhood. This study caught both the tremendous depth and intricate ways Palestinian children express their sorrow by integrating thematic and discourse analytical methodologies. Their experiences reveal themes such as isolation, terror, disrupted schooling, and lasting hope, which represent the physical and emotional toll of life under occupation. However, discourse analysis demonstrates that these narratives are never passive reports, but rather active constructs that fight erasure, proclaim identity, and regain agency. This eclectic approach reveals the dual realities of Palestinian childhood: one experienced under the shadow of conflict and one actively articulated in defiance of silence.