National identity
Despite their long history of dispossession children always referred to
themselves as proudly Palestinian. They reported feelings of happiness
and comfort in seeing the Palestinian flag, demonstrating a strong
attachment to their country and a powerful sense of belonging to a
shared national identity.
“I drew the Palestinian flag because the place I love more is my
country. I belong here. […] I feel strong and good within my
people and my country”. (Nablus, 10, male)
This sense of belonging enhanced children’s feelings of validation and
pride, which helps to sustain their need for self-definition while also
lessening feelings of isolation (in accord with Khalidi, 1997; Hammad,
2011).
However, this feeling of belonging, when related to the perception of
being on the ‘defeated’ side of the conflict, was also generating
feelings of powerlessness, loss of hope, and passivity, which suppresses
the child’s well-being and will for action. For instance, an 8-year-old
boy, standing few miles away from the siege in Gaza, expressed his sense
of frustration about the demonstration taking place every Friday:
“When I’m here and I see the barrier, I feel I have lost because we
have lost lands and our country is already stolen. Like this I feel that
we are defeated and that there is nothing that we can do”.