Struggle and Solidarity: Writing Toward Palestinian Liberation

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The latest Israeli war in Gaza has deprived children of their right to enjoy childhood in the most basic ways. For over three years, Israel has largely banned the import of children’s toys through both commercial and humanitarian channels into the Gaza Strip. Most of the toys still available in limited quantities in Gaza’s markets entered the Strip before the war, and their prices are far beyond what most families can afford. For example, a single Barbie doll can cost the equivalent of $70 in U.S. currency, while a football can cost as much as $50.

This comes on top of the harsh living conditions that children are enduring in overcrowded displacement camps, which restrict their movement and ability to play freely. Israel now controls nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip within the so-called “Yellow Line.” It has also destroyed many of the spaces where children once played and sought relief, including public parks and football fields. According to a post shared by the official social media account of the Municipality of Gaza, “the Israeli war destroyed approximately 90% of the city’s public parks.” The municipality also said that irrigation networks serving the parks have been severely damaged, making it difficult to maintain the remaining green spaces where Gazans can briefly escape the psychological pressures caused by the war.

With no other way to release their pent-up energy, many children in Gaza have turned to making kites. Kites were popular in Gaza even before the war began. During the summer holidays, children used to spend hours together making colorful kites, which they would fly from the rooftops of their homes, or when they went to the beach. They felt both happy and proud during moments when their kites finally took flight and soared high into the sky, knowing that the hard work of making them was worthwhile.

Children have returned to making kites due to the availability and low cost of the materials needed to build them: wooden sticks, colorful paper or nylon, and string. Although a kite may be a simple toy, making one still requires creativity. Children can create different shapes, decorate them with drawings and patterns, and add long, colorful tails. Making and flying kites has become a form of therapy, allowing children to transform ordinary materials into something creative that reminds them of the joy and sense of........

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