Teenagers in Gaza and Israel

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The past two weeks have brought suffering to thousands. In recent days, there have been warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza amid continual bombardment. In Israel, the discovery of bodies continues in the communities near the border, following the attack by Hamas on October 7th. It’s a reflection of this region that many of those caught up in this conflict are young people. Host James Reynolds hears from teenagers, on both sides. In Gaza, roughly half the population is under 18, and although communications are very difficult, young people have been sending us voice messages when they have enough internet. Sanabel (16) is sheltering with her family. In her messages, she said: “No one cares about us. They think we are terrorists. We are truly suffering.” In Israel, thousands have been preparing militarily for the country’s aim of eliminating Hamas. For the majority, turning 18 means joining the army. Neta (18) is preparing to be a solider for Israel. “Enlisting into a time where a war is happening is hard, but it makes me want to do a bigger role and it makes me want to do more in my service,” she says. We also hear from two mothers, Rehaf in Gaza, and Keren in Israel, who are both trying protect their young children from the realities now taking place. Keren’s family have no TV, and she guards her younger children's access to the internet and social media. Rehaf, with the noise of explosions nearby, attempts to offer reassurance: “I try to tell them this sound is from a wedding ceremony or something. I tell them this is normal. There is no problem,” she says. “[But] they understand now, they know what's happening, and they know we're lying to them.” (Photo: An Israeli Iron Dome battery stands ready in an undisclosed location in Israel. Photographed on the 17/10/2023 Lee Durant, Senior Journalist BBC News.)