I came across a video from Gaza that day showing a reporter asking a young boy a simple question: "What do you wish for?" In a very cold voice, the boy replied, "I wish we could die." Taken aback, the reporter asked again why. The boy reacted in a shaking voice, "Because we have nothing to eat, nothing to drink, and that world is not safer for us." What kind of world leads a child to yearn for death? The answer in Gaza rests within the deep wounds of enduring conflict, the deficiency of basics, and the devastating consequence of trauma.

Children in Gaza today are going through the hardened realities of war, including bombings and military operations, consistent with what Jewish children underwent during the Holocaust when they lived in continuous nightmares of Nazi coercion and harshness. This continuous experience of violence leads to substantial psychological damage.

A recent report by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor revealed that 91% of Gaza children suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health disorder that arises from an exceptionally stressful or frightening experience -- whether one has experienced it firsthand or observed it. Symptoms can consist of flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, and persistent thoughts about the incident.

These traumata not only negatively affect their emotional well-being but also their social and cognitive growth.

Children exposed to violence often struggle to form trusting relationships, which impacts their ability to connect with peers, educators, and even family. These mental scars can hinder individuals from achieving personal and professional growth throughout their lives.

Children endure the weight of the family's financial difficulties since parents who are trying to satisfy their basic necessities are sometimes unable to offer them emotional assistance. Malnutrition and hunger are common, leaving kids psychologically and physically exhausted.

Additionally, trauma experienced during childhood often continues into adulthood. Individuals who grow up in tumultuous households are more likely to face issues such as substance abuse, social isolation, and long-lasting mental health conditions. Another significant concern is intergenerational trauma, as the unresolved pain from one generation often affects the well-being of the next.

According to Save the Children, evidence showed that children who went through prolonged exposure to war go through five common psychological issues in later stage: 1) Anxiety, Loneliness, and Insecurity 2) Emotional Withdrawal 2) Aggression 3) Psychosomatic Symptoms and 4) Turning to Self-Harm

Examining history, one can comprehend Israel's confrontational stance towards Palestine, particularly when reflecting on the psychological impact of the Holocaust suffered by Jewish communities. Around six million Jews, including countless children, suffered tragic fates during the Holocaust. Families were stripped of their rights, dignity, and lives due to the Nazi regime's anti-Jewish measures, resulting in a traumatising impact that extended far beyond the immediate aftermath of World War II. As a consequence of their horrific experiences, Jewish children who witnessed these atrocities often developed coping mechanisms characterised by heightened anxiety, fear, and, in some cases, aggression.

The relationship between victimhood and aggressive behaviour could be quite complex due to this cycle of trauma. Feelings of vulnerability and a desire for self-protection may lead Jewish survivors and their descendants to respond aggressively to threats they perceive as jeopardising their existence while coping with the psychological repercussions of their past experiences. Within the Jewish community, the historical narrative of oppression has fostered a sense of urgency and defensiveness that influences their reactions to perceived threats, such as the ongoing conflict in Palestine.

Like their Jewish counterparts during the Holocaust, Palestinian youngsters too endure trauma that affects how they view safety, trust, and the future. Anger and despair can be sustained by the cycle of violence, which can then fuel more aggressiveness in a last-ditch effort to gain acceptance and rights.

The Holocaust resulted in survivors experiencing unresolved trauma and a deficiency in direct accountability for their oppressors. This unhealed anguish may surface as displaced aggression, with vulnerable populations, such as Palestinians, becoming symbolic vehicles for expressing dominance and control. Such reactions are prevalent in cycles of trauma, where victims channel their anger and feelings of powerlessness toward perceived weaker individuals.

Research conducted by C Garland on adults who were children during the Holocaust found that child survivors of trauma, including experiences like loss and separation from family, often find it challenging to properly articulate their anger, worry intensely about their own and their children's welfare, and display physical symptoms with no identifiable medical explanation. Another study conducted by Nathan Mor in 1990 indicated that kids who went through trauma during the Holocaust eventually become parents, and their unresolved emotional difficulties influenced their approaches to parenting. Consequently, this can result in comparable emotional challenges for their children, perpetuating a cycle of mental health problems across generations. Book by Gabriele Schwab "In Haunting Legacies: Violent Histories and Trauma" highlights children affected by war may experience survival anxiety and insecurity for generations to come. Their worldview and parenting approaches are frequently influenced by these unresolved worries, which feed anxiety and instability cycles in subsequent generations.

Back to present, the extended conflict leads to significant psychological issues for Palestinian youth, with repercussions extending far beyond their territories. Furthermore, Children from similar ethnic or religious groups are indirectly exposed to the anguish of their counterparts through easily accessible media coverage. This continuous exposure to the victimisation of children who share their identity fosters a deep sense of suffering and hostility toward those perceived as aggressors. Over time, this can nurture resentment and division, perpetuating cycles of mistrust and animosity across generations.

To tackle the mental health issues faced by children in Palestine, international organisations such as UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Doctors Without Borders any other have implemented innovative approaches such as digital solutions, art therapy, programs in schools, child-friendly settings, and mobile therapy units. These initiatives aim to assist children in coping with trauma by providing safe spaces, therapeutic support, and resilience-building activities. However, challenges such as limited access to conflict areas, insufficient funding, cultural stigma, and reliance on temporary solutions hinder their effectiveness. Furthermore, the efforts are compromised by overwhelmed caregivers, poor coordination among stakeholders, and ongoing exposure to violence. Despite their promise, digital tools often exclude vulnerable populations due to the digital divide. Overcoming these challenges is essential for creating sustainable and effective mental health support for affected children.

Alongside tackling the mental health crisis faced by children who are directly affected, it is equally crucial to consider those who are indirectly impacted by witnessing their community's suffering due to shared ethnic and religious identities. The constant exposure to images and narratives of violence and injustice fosters feelings of anger, pain, and lingering bitterness. Without adequate mental health support, these emotions risk being transmitted across generations, thereby extending cycles of trauma and hostility. To prevent this sorrow from being inherited and to establish a foundation for future peace and reconciliation, it is essential to actively address this ripple effect.

Afruza Akter is a student of Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication Studies, Taylor's University, Malaysia

Dr Tan Kim Hua is an associate professor at Taylor's University, Malaysia