In Gaza and the West Bank under occupation, children are engaging in somber playacting by conducting mock funerals for their stuffed animals. They meticulously wrap the toys in cloth, arrange them in rows, take turns playing the roles of mourner and deceased, and solemnly proceed through make-believe processions. These children exhibit a sense of familiarity with the rituals, reflecting a stark reality where death has become a pervasive element in their lives.
A poignant video circulating on social media captures a young girl earnestly performing chest compressions on a teddy bear, mimicking the actions she has witnessed amidst the rubble surrounding her, actions that have often led to failure. This behavior, termed repetition compulsion by psychologists, is a response to trauma where children unconsciously reenact distressing experiences as a way for their minds to cope with overwhelming events. The children are not seeking to relive pain but rather attempting to gain a sense of control in a world that has stripped away all semblance of it.
This repetitive play serves as a coping mechanism for children who have war as their primary reference point, where the familiarity of burial practices rivals that of everyday comforts. In this context, the normalization of death shapes their worldview, emphasizing a pattern where mortality is not an exception but a prevailing reality.
Contrary to labeling such resilience, it is crucial to recognize this behavior as trauma reenactment, underscoring the profound impact of ongoing conflict on Palestinian children. Each mock funeral and staged procession symbolizes an attempt to transform the terror of their surroundings into something manageable, shedding light on the harrowing experiences woven into the fabric of their daily lives.